Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Isolation of Cells with Morphological and Spatial Information from Oral Submucous Fibrosis Samples by Laser Capture Microdissection
Published on: August 11, 2023
Variations of structure and appearance of the oral mucosa
Thomas J Canaan1, Sean C Meehan
1Department of Oral Medicine, Naval Postgraduate Dental School, National Naval Dental Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA. thomas.canaan@sas.med.navy.mil
Abstract:
Among the most important factors in a thorough clinical examination is the dentist's ability to recognize and make distinctions among normal oral structures, variations of normal structures, and pathologic entities. The practitioner's diagnostic acumen is essential to this process and is a skill gained and refined by clinical experience and continuing education. In this introductory article, the authors describe normal entities, anomalies, and benign soft tissue lesions of interest to the clinician. For presentation, these structures are organized according to their location within the oral cavity.
Related Concept Videos
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
The Oral Microbiota
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Overview
Based on the number of cell layers,...
Classification of Epithelial Tissues: Stratified Epithelium
Histology of the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract
The mucosa is sometimes called a mucous membrane due to its mucus-secreting features. This membrane is composed of epithelium, which directly interacts with ingested substances, and the lamina propria, a layer...
