Salivary Gland Disorders
Salivary gland abnormalities and salivary dysfunction are important orofacial disorders. Patients with such problems are usually seen in the dental office for evaluation and therapy, and the dental practitioner is…
Imaging Technology in Implant Diagnosis
Dental implantology based on osseointegration is among the most significant advances in dental science in the last 50 years. Imaging technology contributes to all stages of implant treatment, from presurgical…
Contemporary Concepts in the Diagnosis of Periodontal Disease
Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of bacterial origin that results in the progressive destruction of the tissues that support the teeth, specifically the gingiva, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. The…
Autoimmune Oral Mucosal Diseases: Clinical, Etiologic, Diagnostic, and Treatment Considerations
This article discusses the classic autoimmune diseases: pemphigus vulgaris, mucosal pemphigoid, and oral lichen planus. These are generally considered of autoimmune origin or, at a minimum, immune system mediated. Cause,…
Contemporary Concepts in the Diagnosis of Oral Cancer and Precancer
This article addresses several issues in the approach to diagnosis of oral cancer. The term oral cancer is clarified. Key aspects of the biologic basis of development of oral cancer…
Saliva as a Diagnostic Fluid
Salivary diagnostics is a dynamic and emerging field utilizing nanotechnology and molecular diagnostics to aid in the diagnosis of oral and systemic diseases. In this article the author critically reviews…
Dental Caries and Pulpal Disease
This article reviews the diagnostic process, from the first clinically evident stages of the caries process to development of pulpal pathosis. The caries diagnostic process includes 4 interconnected components–staging caries…
Differential Diagnosis of Temporomandibular Disorders and Other Orofacial Pain Disorders
There are many types of pain conditions that are felt in the orofacial structures. Most of the conditions treated by the dentist are associated with the teeth, periodontal structures, and…
The Influence of Systemic Diseases on the Diagnosis of Oral Diseases: A Problem-Based Approach
Although all dentists are taught about the importance of oral health to general health and that systemic disease can manifest in the oral cavity, the 4-year dental school curriculum does…
The Diagnostic Process
When first case examples presents to a dentist, a patient may have a specific complaint, be in need of routine evaluation, or arrive on referral from another health care provider….
