Oral Manifestation of Systemic Diseases

Abstract

The mouth is a mirror of health or disease, a sentinel or early warning system. The oral cavity is an important anatomical location with a role in many critical physiologic processes, such as digestion, respiration, and speech. It is also unique for the presence of exposed hard tissue surrounded by mucosa. The mouth is frequently involved in conditions that affect the skin or other multi-organ diseases. In many instances, oral involvement precedes the appearance of other symptoms or lesions at other locations. As the gateway to the body, a constant barrage of invaders like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, challenges the mouth. Many systemic diseases have oral manifestations. These lesions develop on the oral mucosa, tongue, gingiva, dentition, periodontium, salivary glands, facial skeleton, extraoral skin and other related structures. These oral manifestations must be properly recognized if the patient is to receive appropriate diagnosis and referral for treatment.