IMMUNOLOGICAL DISEASES OF ORAL MAXILLOFACIAL REGION

Many immune-mediated diseases present with oral manifestations that often can be the first clinical symptoms and signs of the pathology. Oral health personnel must therefore be alerted and a careful examination of mucosa is necessary often by consultation of dental and/ or oral medicine specialists. Data are nevertheless scarce of the true prevalence of the respective oral lesions that are mostly nonspecific. In addition immunosuppressant drug treatment as such may cause oral side effects needing attention. As long as randomized controlled trials are lacking the treatment of choice of autoimmune diseases and their treatment-associated oral lesions needs to be based on clinical experience. Dermatologists must not forget the thorough examination of the mouth as these diseases present mostly with mucosal and sometimes with dental problems in addition to skin lesions. The oral health specialists may have special means to help the symptoms of an individual patient.