Department of Diagnostic Sciences
Department Chair: Mark Lerman
The Department of Diagnostic Sciences includes four distinct recognized specialties of dentistry and two CODA-accredited advanced graduate dental education programs. The department is focused on teaching, research, and patient care, with faculty, residents, and staff managing head and neck disorders including cancer, temporomandibular joint disorders, autoimmune diseases, and oral manifestations of bodily disease.
Divisions
Craniofacial Pain Center
Services:
Dental Sleep Medicine
Advanced Education in Orofacial Pain
This clinical discipline of dentistry at Tufts is involved with a variety of conditions that cause head and neck pain including TMJ, migraines, and sleep disorders. In addition to providing teaching and research, patient services include:
- Diagnosis and Management of complex pain of the head and neck by a team of dentists and medical specialists
- Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
- Orofacial Pain
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Services:
Clinical Oral Pathology Services
Tufts Oral Pathology Services (TOPS) Biopsy Laboratory
This is the recognized specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that involves the nature, identification, and management of diseases of the oral and maxillofacial region.
Tufts faculty pathologists are involved both in patient-facing care and in diagnosing patients microscopically through the Tufts Oral Pathology Services (TOPS) biopsy service.
- For clinical evaluation of patients for diagnosis and management of oral mucosal disease, appointments may be scheduled by calling 617-636-3932.
- Clinicians looking to send biopsy specimens for microscopic evaluation can contact TOPS at 617-636-6510 for complimentary biopsy kits
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Services:
Radiology Services, including cone beam CT
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (OMFR) is the recognized clinical specialty of dentistry and discipline of radiology concerned with the production and interpretation of images and data produced by all modalities of radiant energy that are used for the diagnosis and management of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region.
Beyond the interpretation of imaging, the OMFR division is actively involved in research and in teaching dental students, dental specialists, and general dentists.
Oral Medicine
Services:
Advanced Education in Oral Medicine
This clinical discipline of dentistry at Tufts is particularly involved in managing medically compromised patients, particularly those who suffer head and neck cancer treatment side effects such as dry mouth and mouth sores. In addition to performing research and teaching dental students and dentists, this division serves patients through:
- Management of mouth and dental treatment for very high-risk cavities
- Dental management of patients with systemic medical conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS
- Dental management of patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants
- Dental management of patients who suffer dry mouth and conditions such as Sjogren’s disease