This section explains what you can expect when you come to our:
- oral medicine clinic - for newly referred patients and follow-up patients
- specialist clinics - if you already have a diagnosis and/or if you ahve been referred from another hospital
- clinic for patch testing if you are booked for surgery. All newly-referred patients are assessed at one of our weekly clinics. These are usually held every day. Please note that we do not have an emergency clinic, so if you are having urgent problems, you must go to the acute dental clinic on the 23rd floor.
All newly-referred patients are assessed at one of our weekly clinics. These are usually held every day. Please note that we do not have an emergency clinic, so if you are having urgent problems, you must go to the acute dental clinic on the 23rd floor.
Changing or cancelling your appointment
Call us on the relevant number at the top of the page. Please tell as as soon as possible so we can offer your appointment to another patient.
Before your appointment
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time. If you are more than 20 minutes late for your appointment, we may not be able to see you.
We make every effort to see you on time, but you may wish to bring something with you, for example a book in case there are unavoidable delays.
At your appointment
We may ask you to produce a saliva sample before you are seen by a member of staff. This to help us make your appointment more efficient. Straightforward consultations will be over within an hour. If your condition is more complex and you have been booked into a clinic where two consultant specialists need to see you, it could take most of the morning or afternoon.
If you are coming for patch testing then you will need to wait 20 minutes after the patches have been put on and then another 20 minutes after the patches are removed. This may be longer, depending how busy the clinic is and how many people are waiting to be seen.
If you are coming for a biopsy appointment, please see the biopsy page for more information.
Investigations
Our consultant clinics allow you to have a consultation with a specialist in oral medicine. If you need further investigations, we will discuss what they involve with you. You may need:
- saliva tests
- blood tests
- a salivary flow rate evaluation
- a biopsy
- patch test
- CT scan
- x-rays, MRIs, CT Scans and ultrasound.
Some of these may take place on the same day as your appointment, while for others you may need an appointment in another department. We may also ask you to have some tests before coming to the clinic for a review appointment. If so, we will send you information on this before your next appointment.
After your appointment
Most patients receive a diagnosis on the day of their appointment. If you do, your treatment options will be discussed with you.