Evaluation of referral patterns to the oral and maxillofacial medicine Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences: a cross-sectional study

Oral and maxillofacial medicine is a dental specialty focused on diagnosing and non-surgically managing diseases of the oral and maxillofacial region. This study evaluated referral patterns to the Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. In this cross-sectional study, 151 patients referred over six months were enrolled using census sampling. Demographic characteristics, referral source and reason, lesion type and location, previous healthcare consultations, referral delay, pre-referral diagnostic procedures, and medications were recorded using a structured data-collection form. Categorical variables were analyzed using the Chi-square test, and non-normally distributed continuous variables using the Mann–Whitney U or Kruskal–Wallis test. Spearman’s correlation was used for associations between continuous variables. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. The mean age was 46.6 ± 17.7 years, and 57.6% of patients were female. Mean referral delay was 80.6 ± 144.8 days, and patients had consulted a mean of 1.9 ± 1.3 healthcare centers before referral. Dentists accounted for 64.2% of final referrals and physicians for 32.5%. White and red lesions were the most common diagnostic category (23.2%), and the buccal mucosa was the most frequently involved site (25.2%). A total of 38 pre-referral diagnostic procedures were recorded, most commonly radiography, while medications or other treatments had been prescribed for 37.7% of patients. Diagnostic uncertainty was the most common reason for referral (62.9%). Lesion type was significantly associated with referral delay and the number of previously consulted providers (both P < 0.001). Referral delay differed across age groups ( P = 0.022) and showed a weak positive correlation with age (Spearman’s ρ = 0.25, P = 0.002). Referral reason did not differ by gender ( P = 0.83). Dentists were the largest source of final referral, and diagnostic uncertainty was the most common reason for referral. Referral delay and previous consultations varied across clinical categories, although low-frequency categories require cautious interpretation. The predominance of oral mucosal conditions reflects this service’s referral profile rather than the full scope of oral medicine. Post-referral management and clinical outcomes were not evaluated. Multicenter prospective studies are needed to characterize referral pathways and diagnostic delay.