Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: etiology, diagnosis, and treatment

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a very common condition seen frequently by dentists in practice. Although the majority of cases are benign and resolve in less than two weeks, these ulcerations may be indicative of underlying systemic diseases ranging from vitamin deficiency to autoimmunity. Awareness of these correlations can help the dentist make or aid the diagnosis of potentially serious conditions. There are treatments of which the practitioner should be aware that may ameliorate the pain of the ulcerations or shorten their duration. The diagnosis and management of this important condition is reviewed in this article.