[Demonstration of gingival and mucosal findings]

As the conventional diagnostic methods are largely dependent upon the subjective power of judgment, despite the good recognizability of the mucosa which lines the oral cavity, the present day possibilities of extended diagnostics are discussed and commented upon. Neither the ultrasonic diagnostic methods for determining the thickness of the mucosa, nor the cytologic and histologic methods may be considered practice-relevant. But it is of interest that the specialized, lining and masticatory mucosae show specific reactions. The masticatory mucosa which comprises also the rests of the gingiva propria, is as well individually determined, which explains the different responses to mechanical, chemical and bacterial-toxic stimuli. A choice of clinical examples serves to demonstrate that such empirical values may be useful in clinical diagnostics and, thus, that they are of great importance in preparation of prosthetic-therapeutic measures.