Orofacial Disorders

Book excerpt: This cutting-edge book is a quick reference guide to the evidence-based evaluation, diagnosis, and management of the broad spectrum of orofacial disorders. Each chapter is devoted to a particular disease or disorder and presents advances in our understanding of the condition, the most recent evaluation and diagnostic strategies, and up-to-date treatment approaches. In addition, strategies for integration of care into routine dental practice are explained, and information provided on how to comprehensively diagnose and manage orofacial disorders. The coverage encompasses the latest technological advances in the field, such as novel pharmaceuticals, diagnostic tools, gene transfer techniques, radiotherapy modalities, and a vast array of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches including complementary and alternative therapies for orofacial disorders.Although the management of orofacial disorders is emerging as a distinct field of dentistry, many dentists and physicians are unfamiliar with recent advances in the care of patients with these disorders including orofacial pain, oral lesions and cancer, malodor, xerostomia, obstructive sleep apnea, bruxism and oral parafunctional behaviors, temporomandibular disorders, occlusal dysesthesias, orofacial neuropathic pains, and headaches. This book, written by world class experts, is deliberately geared to the level of understanding of a clinician. It will serve as an ideal evidence-based reference and source of specific clinical recommendations in daily practice.