Oral Medicine and Pathology

This Advanced Training Course is designed to provide dentists and general practitioners with the pathophysiological foundations of oral diseases. The diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the oral cavity are often challenging, with implications for overall systemic health. The oral cavity can be affected by various types of diseases, including infectious, autoimmune, and precancerous and malignant conditions. In particular, oral cancer has been reported to be a highly lethal disease, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. In this context, the course aims to enhance participants’ ability to distinguish between normal mucosa and the heterogeneous patterns of
changes that may affect the oral mucosa, ranging from benign to malignant lesions. Participants will be guided through various types of diseases and will be instructed on routine blood and laboratory tests, as well as diagnostic procedures. The role of the general practitioner and the dentist is crucial because they typically see patients multiple times throughout the year and, when possible, may be able to detect changes in the oral cavity at an early stage, guiding the patient toward early diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Participants will acquire new skills with immediate implications for their clinical practice.

It is important to raise awareness among physicians in order to meet patients’ needs. For example, although there have recently been improvements in the treatment and diagnosis of oral cancer, its incidence and patient survival rates have not improved. The objective of this course also addresses public health goals, as the latest scientific evidence has shown a strong correlation between oral health and overall health, with implications for lifestyle and healthcare spending.

The Advanced Training Course is open to anyone who holds a master’s degree—or a degree earned under the regulations in effect prior to Ministerial Decree 509/99—in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, in Medicine and Surgery, a specialization in Odontostomatology, a three-year or first-level degree in Dental Hygiene, or equivalent qualifications.