Overview

The oral cavity and its surrounding and supporting structures not only affect our digestive processes, but also affect our speech and appearance. In order to identify problems in the oral cavity, the dental professional must first recognize normal anatomy as well as the normal appearance of the surrounding areas. In addition, it is essential the dental professional be able to evaluate the health of the teeth as well as the supporting tissues and periodontium. Even though the dentist is responsible for diagnosis, all dental professionals should be able to recognize deviations from normal in order to determine the need for further investigation by the dentist.