An overview of immunology with special reference to oral disease

This overview of the current state of knowledge of the immune system as it is relevant to the oral cavity in health and disease, is presented to illustrate the significance of immunology to the practice of dentistry. Thus immunological mechanisms contribute in a major way to the pathogenesis of the two most common dental disorders and it may be that the ultimate control of dental caries may be through manipulation of the mucosal immune apparatus. Future advances require a clearer and more quantitative analysis of oral mucosal immunity in relation to health and disease.