Skip to content

Oral medicine

What we do

We diagnose and treat mouth and jaw conditions that do not need surgery. These include:

  • abnormalities of the lining of your mouth
  • white or red or pigmented patches
  • lumps and bumps
  • ulcers
  • pain in your face, jaw or mouth
  • mouth dryness and salivary gland disorders.

We see patients with suspected oral cancer within two weeks of referral.

We also carry out research into subjects like:

  • oral cancer in young people and the care they receive
  • oral cancer screening tests
  • using laser technology to remove precancerous sores (oral leukoplakia).

We do not treat mouth injuries or common dental disorders such as tooth and gum disease. These are treated by other services at King’s Dental Institute.

Preparing for your appointment

Please bring to your appointment:

  • a referral letter from your GP or dentist
  • a completed medical history form
  • the name and address of your GP or dentist (GP if referred by your dentist, dentist if referred by your GP).

Location

Ground floor, Dental Institute, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS

Contact Details

Conditions we treat

We treat:

  • oral ulcers/ulceration
  • lumps and swellings of the oral cavity (including lymphadenopathy)
  • white and red patches (including lichen planus and oral submucous fibrosis) suggestive of potentially malignant disease or malignancy
  • stomatitis (including candidosis) and chelitis (or cheliosis)
  • pigmentary conditions of the oral mucosa
  • facial pain and burning mouth symptoms
  • dry mouth or other symptoms related to salivary gland disease.

Additionally we offer urgent two-week appointments for:

  • oral ulcer/lump that has lasted more than two weeks and is unexplained/ persistent and unresolved following the removal of an obvious local cause(s) considered suspicious of a malignancy
  • a persistent oral ulcer associated with unexplained tooth mobility not associated with periodontal disease
  • an acute episode of severe and somewhat generalised oral ulceration in lips, mouth or oro-pharynx
  • any patient with a blistering disease that leads to oral ulceration.

Booking a patient at King’s

GPs should refer via NHS e-referral (e-RS) wherever possible.

Other ways to refer

Routine Referrals

Dental practices that wish to refer to oral medicine should use the South East London oral medicine single point of access. Please use this SmartSurvey link.

GPs should refer via e-RS. We do not accept referrals to the facial pain clinic via e-RS. Patients with facial pain should be advised to see their dentist, who can refer them to the service via this SmartSurvey link  if no dental cause for the pain is identified.

Emergency Referrals

Other Queries

For other enquiries, phone the Department Clinical Secretary on 020 3299 2872.

Referral forms

TitleFile SizeLink
Dental Referral Form – South East London Oral Medicine

Key Clinical Staff

Name Role
Dr Shahid Chaudhry Consultant
Dr Emma Hayes Consultant
Mr Timothy Poate Consultant