STOMATOLOGY

Stomatology, also known as odontostomatology or dental medicine, is a medical discipline that focuses on the study and treatment of dental and oral diseases. It is a specialized field that requires expertise in head and neck anatomy and diseases, dental surgery, and dental and facial orthopedics (orthodontics). Stomatologists are trained in oral and dental examination, radiographic imaging, and prosthetics.

The oral cavity, teeth, gums, and tongue can be affected by numerous diseases, both benign and malignant. Inflammation of the oral mucosa is referred to as stomatitis or oral inflammation and can result in painful mucosal abrasions, cracks, or ulcerations, often hindering nutrition and drawing attention to the disease.

Oral Inflammations (stomatitis)

Oral inflammations can be acute or chronic and may indicate a local or systemic disease. Some oral inflammations are caused by the intake of antibiotics. Examples of local diseases causing oral inflammation include viral infections like cold sores and canker sores, fungal infections like oral thrush, dental caries, and a skin disease called lichen planus.

General diseases, particularly infectious diseases such as eruptive fevers, can also cause oral inflammation during certain stages of their course. The characteristics of such oral inflammation are quite distinct and can aid in diagnosis even before the appearance of the rash. For instance, in the initial stage of measles, white spots resembling semolina crumbs can be observed in the groove between the gum and cheek. In mumps, the opening of Stensen’s duct, which drains the salivary gland into the mouth, appears red and swollen. In syphilis, the appearance of lesions varies depending on the stage of the disease (chancre, mucous patches, gumma).

Deficiency of vitamin C leads to scurvy, which causes bleeding gums. Certain metal poisonings resulting from medication can also lead to oral inflammations. In mercury poisoning, the oral mucosa appears bright red. Lead poisoning is characterized by a dark gray-blue line below the free margin of the gums. Bismuth forms a blue-black line on the gums and sometimes bluish spots on the cheeks. Gold salts cause a pearly-colored oral inflammation, while phosphorus causes tissue destruction in the deeper tissues of the jaw.