Why Physicians Should Look at the Mouths of Their Patients

The oral cavity is the initial portion of the digestive tract in continuity with the skin, and consequently it has anatomic, histologic, functional, and pathologic aspects related both to the skin and to the digestive system [1, 2]. Anatomically, the oral cavity includes the lips, gingivae, hard palate, cheek mucosa, tongue, floor of the mouth, and teeth placed in jaw bones; all this is bathed by saliva [1, 2]. The mouth has a very complex and varied pathology which includes infectious, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases that may affect the oral mucosa, the gnathic bones and salivary glands. Although oral pathology is an important chapter in the general pathology, the majority of doctors lack knowledge about oral diseases and their relationship with general health [3]. Therefore, it is very important to improve physicians’ information about oral pathology, especially on periodontal disease, bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ), and oral cancer.