Center for Oral Diseases

About Us

The Center for Oral Diseases (COD) is a clinical-research collaborative at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) on the campus of the Boston Medical Center (BMC).

The team, led by Dr. Andrew Salama, draws on the experience and expertise of specialists in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology at GSDM. A primary goal of the COD is to eliminate silos of clinical care by creating synchronous multi-disciplinary appointments for patients. This model of care in head and neck cancer and other health care arenas has been shown to improve survival, quality of life, and patient satisfaction.

The state-of-the-art multispecialty clinic focuses primarily on mucosal diseases of the oral cavity including oral epithelial dysplasia, oral cancer, and salivary gland disorders, as well as mucosal fragility disorders including lichen planus, mucous membrane pemphigoid, and pemphigus vulgaris. Dr. Vikki Noonan, an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist, brings with her experience from diagnostic histopathology to bridge the gap from the microscope to the chairside providing consultative and treatment services for a wide variety of oral conditions.

The COD is a critical component of GSDM’s Oral Cancer Research Initiative (OCRI), a multidisciplinary collaboration among scientists and clinicians with a research program focused on the etiology and pathogenesis of oral cancer. Recently established as an Evans Center Affinity Research Collaborative (ARC), the OCRI-ARC applies cutting edge technologies and strategies to identify the underlying mechanisms of oral cancer development and progression and to translate research findings into prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. In this context, the COD facilitates collaborations between scientists and clinicians.

Click here to view the Center for Oral Disease patient packet.

Our Services

The Center for Oral Diseases at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine is a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary specialty practice. The Center’s team of practitioners is uniquely positioned to offer patients comprehensive management of head and neck cancer, as well as extensive expertise in the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of oral conditions, including:

  • Dysplasia and Oral Cancer
  • Salivary Gland Disorders
  • Odontogenic Cysts and Tumors
  • Lichen Planus/Lichenoid Mucositis
  • Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
  • Pemphigus Vulgaris
  • Infectious Diseases of the Oral Cavity
  • Burning Mouth Syndrome
  • Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis

Our Team

The practitioners at the Center for Oral Diseases hold joint appointments at Boston Medical Center and are members of the Oral Cancer Research Initiative, a multidisciplinary collaborative that aligns basic scientists, clinicians, public health researchers, engineers, chemists, and computational biologists to address diverse issues related to oral cancer.

GSDMHEADS Dr. Andrew Salama, DDS, MD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at GSDM. Dr. Salama is board-certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery and is one of a select group of oral and maxillofacial surgeons with specialized fellowship training in Oncologic surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Salama has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature and his primary clinical interests include treatment of head and neck pathology including malignancies and microvascular reconstruction.
noonan-vikki Dr. Vikki Noonan, DMD, DMSc, is Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Oral Pathology in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at GSDM. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Dr. Noonan has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature and serves as a reviewer for several professional journals. Her clinical interests include the diagnosis and management of oral mucosal diseases and diseases of the jaws.
osborn-timothy Dr. Timothy Osborn, DDS, MD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Director of the Internship Program in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at GSDM. A Doctor of Dental Medicine graduate of the University of Minnesota, he received his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery & Doctor of Medicine degree from the Oregon Health and Sciences University. Dr. Osborn has contributed to the literature with numerous publications and is a peer reviewer for many professional journals. His clinical practice includes the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery including benign and malignant pathology and he also specializes in advanced techniques for the surgical management of facial pain and migraines.
kukuruzinska-200 Dr. Maria A. Kukuruzinska, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and Associate Dean for Research at GSDM and Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the BU School of Medicine. Major topics of research in her laboratory include the mechanisms underlying salivary gland development, the molecular basis of oral cancer, and Sjogren’s Syndrome.

Location

Boston University Henry M. Goldman
School of Dental Medicine
100 East Newton Street, 4th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02118

The Center for Oral Diseases is accessible by car and via public transportation. Parking is available in the parking garage located on Albany Street across from Boston Medical Center.

Contact Us

Anita Jhamb, Clinical Coordinator
617-638-4625
gsdmcod@bu.edu