Message from AAOM President John Robinson, DDS, FAAOM

As president of the American Academy of Oral Medicine, I would like to welcome you to this website.

Oral medicine is that area of dentistry that addresses conditions that have medical characteristics affecting their management, including diseases of the oral mucosa, orofacial pain conditions, salivary gland disorders and taste disorders. It also addresses the dental management of people with medical problems that require special consideration, including people with complicated medical histories, the elderly, and patients who have or have had head and neck cancer.

The special knowledge and experience that many of these situations require is not always readily or consistently available within the existing community practices of many general dentists and dental specialists. Oral medicine is typically practiced as a specialty or sub-specialty, but because it is not officially recognized as a specialty, many people are unaware that it exists, and as a result may have difficulty in obtaining such care.

The mission of the AAOM is to advance the delivery and effectiveness of oral medicine care through research, undergraduate, post-graduate, and continuing dental education, and public awareness. In furtherance of that mission, we also continue to press for official recognition as a distinct specialty of dentistry. Our members include dental school faculty and researchers, as well as clinicians practicing in government institutions, the armed forces, and privately within the community. We are affiliated with the American Board of Oral Medicine, which examines and certifies graduates of multi-year oral medicine residency programs.

For the clinician, the Academy offers continuing education at its annual meetings, the highly regarded series of Clnicians’ Guide publications, and opportunities to network with academy members. The Academy also offers an advanced credential, Academic Fellowship, to dentists who demonstrate advanced proficiency in oral medicine, but who are not board-eligible. For patients, we offer informational materials available on this website, as well as our “Find a Doctor” feature to assist in locating a dentist knowledgeable in managing oral medicine problems. We also offer links to other informational websites.

Whatever your interest in oral medicine, and whether you are a patient or a clinician interested in information about a clinical problem, continuing education, or membership in the academy, we hope you will explore this site and that you will find it helpful. We are interested in your suggestions, and invite your feedback and questions. Feel free to email us at info@aaom.com.

John C. Robinson, DDS, FAAOM

American Academy of Oral Medicine
www.aaom.com
P.O. Box 2016
Edmonds, Washington  98020
425.778.6162
info@aaom.com