According to the American Academy of Oral Medicine, the field of oral and maxillofacial medicine is a sub-branch of the specialized dentistry courses, which is involved with the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of oral mucosal epithelial lesions, necessary care of the oral and dental mucosa, and design and presentation of dental considerations in the case of patients with systemic diseases. In other words, diagnosis of oral mucosal lesions (e.g., ulcers, white and red lesions) and their non-surgical treatment is the main task of the oral and maxillofacial specialists. Some other tasks in this regard include the diagnosis and control of patients with systemic diseases, dentistry measures required for patients with cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, and diagnosis and control of oral manifestations caused by systemic diseases.

Oral and maxillofacial pain, such as neuralgia, atypical facial pains, tension headaches and pains of the temporomandibular joint are diagnosed by a specialist of oral diseases; some of these conditions could be treated or referred to a specialist if needed. Another area of expertise is the diagnosis of benign, malignant, environmental and central maxillofacial tumors based on the clinical symptoms of patients.

Sampling of oral mucosal lesions for its definite diagnosis and histopathological examination for therapeutic purposes, use of low-power lasers for therapeutic purposes, use of surgical lasers for the excision of oral mucosal lesions and cryotherapy for these lesions are among the other tasks performed by the specialists of oral disorders.