MEET THE DOCTOR

DR. BHAVIK DESAI DMD PHD

BACKGROUND

Dr. Desai completed his dental education and specialty training at some of the most respected institutions in the country. Upon graduating from dental school, Dr. Desai attended the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, Maryland where he received his PhD. He attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he received his DMD.

Dr. Desai continued at the Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine where he completed a 2-year residency in oral medicine and went on to teach and practice at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. He became an assistant professor and postgraduate program director at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where he taught and practiced oral medicine and orofacial pain and provided consultations for medically complex dentistry. Subsequently, Dr. Desai became the Associate Professor and Section Director of Oral Medicine, at the Dental College of Georgia, where he again taught and practiced oral medicine, orofacial pain and sleep apnea. His research background, combined with years of clinical experience, informs his commitment to thorough evaluations and individualized treatment planning.

As an educator and clinician, Dr. Desai is passionate about advancing the field of oral medicine and bringing awareness to conditions that lie at the intersection of dentistry and medicine. He has published and presented on numerous topics within oral medicine and orofacial pain.

When he’s not in clinic, Dr. Desai enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, culture and cuisine. He likes staying engaged with professional education and advocacy.

DR. DESAI'S SELECT PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

PUBLICATIONS

Desai B, Gamble R, Brown R. Dental education and urgent dental care: a new specialty in the making? In process for resubmission to Gen Dent

Bukhari A, Magnuson B, Desai B, Pilichowska M, Lerman M. IgG4-related disease mimicking extranodal lymphoma of the palate. Under revision after review for Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol

Farag A, York J, Finkelman M, Desai B, Prescription of Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Geriatric Patients: Data from a Single Dental Institution. Accepted for publication in Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol

Thoppay J, Desai B. Oral burning: local and systemic connection for a patient-centric approach. EPMA J; 2019 Jan:1-11

Farag A, Desai B, Appropriateness of tricyclic antidepressants in the geriatric patients: a critical interpretation of existing literature. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol; 2018 Jun;125(6):701-702.

Farag A, Desai B, Prescription of potentially inappropriate medications in geriatric patients: a clinical update for oral medicine and orofacial pain practitioners. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. Dec 2017;124(6):600-7

Bugshan A, Bukhari A, Desai B. Lisinopril Induced Oral Lichenoid Reaction. J. Mass. Dent. Soc. Winter 2018 ed:18-22.

Bugshan A, Farag A, Desai B. Oral Complications of Systemic Bacterial and Fungal Infections. Atlas Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2017 Sep;25(2):209-220

Desai B, Laskin D. Author’s response: How accurate is information about TMD’s on the internet? Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. Nov 2016;122(5):654

Desai B, Alkandari N, Laskin D. How accurate is information about TMD’s on the internet? Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. Sep 2016;122(3):306-9

Desai B, Svirsky J. Oral cancer in a patient receiving mercaptopurine for ulcerative colitis. J Crohns, Colitis. 2015, doi 10:1093/ecco-jcc/jjv236

Rathore S, Svirsky J, Desai B. Tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma: an additional consideration for atypical glossodynia. Dentistry Today; June 2016

Omolehinwa TT, Musbah T, Desai B, O’Malley BW Jr, Stoopler ET. Neuralgia associated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy in a patient initially diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder. Oral Surg, Oral Med, Oral Pathol, Oral Radiol. 2015 Mar;119(3):e101-4

Singh S, Desai B, Laskin D. Melanoma and TMD. J Am Dental Assoc, 2015 Mar;146(3):145-6

Singh S, Desai B, Laskin D. Metastatic melanoma misdiagnosed as a temporomandibular joint disorder: case report and review of literature. J Am Dental Assoc, 2014 Oct;145(10):1052-7

Desai B, Abubaker, AO, Svirsky, JA. New oral medicine and oro-facial pain clinic at VCU School of Dentistry. Virginia Dental Association Journal, 2013; 90(2):26-27

Desai B, Svirsky, JA. Multiple myeloma and solitary plasmacytoma detected through intraoral manifestations: a case series. Virginia Dental Association Journal, 2013; July, August and September:17-19

Stoopler ET, Desai B. A tongue mass in a patient with oral lichen planus. J Can Dent Assoc, 2012; 78: c60

Grosskopf C, Desai B, Stoopler ET. An oral complication associated with Morgellon’s disease: a case report. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 2011; 112(2): e19-e23

Desai B, Ma T, Zhu J, Chellaiah MA. Characterization of the expression of variant and standard CD44 in prostate cancer cells: Identification of the possible molecular mechanism of CD44/MMP9 complex formation on the cell surface. J Cell Biochem. 2009; 108(1): 272-284. doi: 10.1002/jcb.22248

Desai B, Ma T, Chellaiah MA. Invadopodia and matrix degradation: A new property of prostate cancer cells during migration and invasion. J Biol Chem. 2008; 283(20): 13856-13866. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M709401200

Desai B, Rogers MJ, Chellaiah MA. Mechanisms of osteopontin and CD44 as metastatic principles in prostate cancer cells. Mol Cancer. 2007; 6:18. doi: 10.1186/1476-4598-6-18

TEXTBOOK CHAPTERS

Desai B, Brown R. Erythema Multiforme. AAOM Clinician’s Guide: Management of Oral Mucosal Lesions. 4th edition.

Desai B, Sollecito T. Hematological disease. In: Patton LL, ed. The ADA Practical Guide to Patients with Medical Conditions (2nd edition). Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell; August 2016

Desai B, Gollehon SG, Ness GM: Chapter 42: Facial pain and myofascial disorders. In Abubaker AO, Lam D, Benson KJ: Oral and maxillofacial surgery secrets, ed 3, St. Louis, 2016, Elsevier.

Desai B, Pinto A, Alawi F. When should I refer oral ulcers? In: Treat JR. ed. Curbside Consultation in Pediatric Dermatology: 49 Clinical Questions. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Inc.; 2012: 81-88.

Desai B, Sollecito T. Hematological disease. In: Patton LL, ed. The ADA Practical Guide to Patients with Medical Conditions. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012; 143-172.

WHAT IS ORAL MEDICINE?

Oral Medicine is defined by the American Academy of Oral Medicine as the branch of dentistry that deals with the non-surgical management of medical conditions affecting the oral cavity and the head, neck and maxillofacial region along with the dental management of medically complex patients.

The American Dental Association (ADA) officially recognized Oral Medicine as a dental specialty on March 2, 2020. This decision was made by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards, making Oral Medicine the 11th ADA-recognized dental specialty. This recognition helps improve awareness, access to specialized care, and advances education in oral medicine.

Research suggests that patients with complex oral medicine conditions such as burning mouth syndrome, oral mucosal diseases, or temporomandibular disorders, where symptoms overlap with other medical or dental issues often see multiple providers before receiving an accurate diagnosis. Many individuals consult general dentists, primary care physicians, specialists like ENT doctors, and even rheumatologists before reaching an oral medicine specialist. On average a patient sees 2.2 providers and waits 16.8 months before seeing an oral medicine specialist and obtaining an accurate diagnosis and management of their condition.