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Clinical Anatomy (New York, N.Y.) Sep 2019Surgical release of the lingual frenulum (frenotomy) has become an increasingly common procedure, performed from birth through to adulthood. Surprisingly, detailed...
Surgical release of the lingual frenulum (frenotomy) has become an increasingly common procedure, performed from birth through to adulthood. Surprisingly, detailed anatomy of the in-situ lingual frenulum has never been described, and no anatomical basis has been proposed for the individual variability in frenulum morphology. The lingual frenulum is frequently referred to as a "cord" or "submucosal band" of connective tissue, yet there is no evidence to support this anatomical construct. This paper aims to describe the anatomy of the in-situ lingual frenulum and its relationship to floor of mouth structures. Fresh tissue microdissection of the lingual frenulum and floor of mouth was performed on nine adult cadavers with photo-documentation and description of findings. The lingual frenulum is a dynamic structure, formed by a midline fold in a layer of fascia that inserts around the inner arc of the mandible, forming a diaphragm-like structure across the floor of mouth. This fascia is located immediately beneath the oral mucosa, fusing centrally with the connective tissue on the tongue's ventral surface. The sublingual glands and submandibular ducts are enveloped by the fascial layer and anterior genioglossus fibers are suspended beneath it. Lingual nerve branches are located superficially on the ventral surface of the tongue, immediately deep to the fascia. The lingual frenulum is not a discrete midline structure. It is formed by dynamic elevation of a midline fold in the floor of mouth fascia. With this study, the clinical concept of ankyloglossia and its surgical management warrant revision. Clin. Anat. 32:749-761, 2019. © 2019 The Authors. Clinical Anatomy published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Clinical Anatomists.
Topics: Ankyloglossia; Cadaver; Dissection; Humans; Lingual Frenum; Mandible; Mouth Mucosa
PubMed: 30701608
DOI: 10.1002/ca.23343 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Nov 2014Oral somatosensory awareness refers to the somatic sensations arising within the mouth, and to the information these sensations provide about the state and structure of... (Review)
Review
Oral somatosensory awareness refers to the somatic sensations arising within the mouth, and to the information these sensations provide about the state and structure of the mouth itself, and objects in the mouth. Because the oral tissues have a strong somatosensory innervation, they are the locus of some of our most intense and vivid bodily experiences. The salient pain of toothache, or the habit of running one's tongue over one's teeth when someone mentions "dentist", provide two very different indications of the power of oral somatosensory awareness in human experience and behaviour. This paper aims to review the origins and structure of oral somatosensory awareness, focussing on quantitative, mechanistic studies in humans. We first extend a model of levels of bodily awareness to the specific case of the mouth. We then briefly summarise the sensory innervation of oral tissues, and their projections in the brain. We next describe how these peripheral inputs give rise to perceptions of objects in the mouth, such as foods, liquids and oral devices, and also of the mouth tissues themselves. Finally, we consider the concept of a conscious mouth image, and the somatosensory basis of "mouth feel". The theoretical framework outlined in this paper is intended to facilitate scientific studies of this important site of human experience.
Topics: Awareness; Humans; Mouth; Touch; Touch Perception
PubMed: 25284337
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.09.015 -
Periodontology 2000 Feb 2016Over the last 10 years there have been only a handful of publications dealing with the oral virome, which is in contrast to the oral microbiome, an area that has seen... (Review)
Review
Over the last 10 years there have been only a handful of publications dealing with the oral virome, which is in contrast to the oral microbiome, an area that has seen considerable interest. Here, we survey viral infections in general and then focus on those viruses that are found in and/or are transmitted via the oral cavity; norovirus, rabies, human papillomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex viruses, hepatitis C virus, and HIV. Increasingly, viral infections have been diagnosed using an oral sample (e.g. saliva mucosal transudate or an oral swab) instead of blood or urine. The results of two studies using a rapid and semi-quantitative lateral flow assay format demonstrating the correlation of HIV anti-IgG/sIgA detection with saliva and serum samples are presented. When immediate detection of infection is important, point-of-care devices that obtain a non-invasive sample from the oral cavity can be used to provide a first line diagnosis to assist in determining appropriate counselling and therapeutic path for an increasing number of diseases.
Topics: Humans; Mouth; Saliva; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 26662485
DOI: 10.1111/prd.12112 -
Medicine Nov 2022Frequently, periodontal health and it's associated oral biofilm has not been addressed in those patients who have systemic health issues, especially those who are not... (Review)
Review
Frequently, periodontal health and it's associated oral biofilm has not been addressed in those patients who have systemic health issues, especially those who are not responding to medical treatment via their physician. Oral biofilm may be present in the periodontal sulcus in the absence of clinical disease of periodontal disease (bleeding on probing, gingival inflammation) and periodontal reaction is dependent on the patient's immune response to the associated bacterial and their byproducts. Increasing evidence has been emerging the past decade connecting oral biofilm with systemic conditions, either initiating them or complicating those medical conditions. The patient's health needs to be thought of as a whole-body system with connections that may originate in the oral cavity and have distant affects throughout the body. To maximize total health, a coordination in healthcare needs to be a symbiosis between the physician and dentist to eliminate the oral biofilm and aid in prevention of systemic disease or minimize those effects to improve the patient's overall health and quality of life. Various areas of systemic health have been associated with the bacteria and their byproducts in the oral biofilm. Those include cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, pulmonary disease, prostate cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, pre-term pregnancy, erectile dysfunction Alzheimer's disease and Rheumatoid arthritis. This article will discuss oral biofilm, its affects systemically and review the medical conditions associated with the oral systemic connection with an extensive review of the literature.
Topics: Humans; Male; Oral Health; Quality of Life; Biofilms; Mouth; Immunotherapy; Bacteria
PubMed: 36401454
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000030517 -
Folia Morphologica 2022There are several types of morphea with different levels of connective tissue involvement and morphological manifestations. In this mini review, it was pointed out the... (Review)
Review
There are several types of morphea with different levels of connective tissue involvement and morphological manifestations. In this mini review, it was pointed out the most important morphological and clinical aspects of localised scleroderma in the oral cavity. The case presented in this article supports the scientific information and is described with details. The morphea of mucous membrane which was clinically suspected, was proved by histopathological examination of the sample. The unusual location of the local findings posed a diagnostic challenge. The case history should be significant due to the low number of studies. The special attention should be taken to match the clinical with pathomorphological picture in localised scleroderma diagnosis and treatment when the involvement of skin and oral mucosa is.
Topics: Humans; Mouth; Scleroderma, Localized; Skin
PubMed: 34608983
DOI: 10.5603/FM.a2021.0083 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021The oral cavity is a complex environment constantly exposed to antigens from food and the oral microbiota. Innate immune cells play an essential role in maintaining... (Review)
Review
The oral cavity is a complex environment constantly exposed to antigens from food and the oral microbiota. Innate immune cells play an essential role in maintaining health and homeostasis in the oral environment. However, these cells also play a significant role in disease progression. This review will focus on two innate phagocytes in the oral cavity: macrophages and neutrophils, and examine their roles during homeostasis and disease development, with a focus on periodontal disease and cancer. Macrophages have a well-known ability to polarize and be activated towards a variety of phenotypes. Several studies have found that macrophages' polarization changes can play an essential role in maintaining health in the oral cavity and contribute to disease. Recent data also finds that neutrophils display phenotypic heterogeneity in the oral cavity. In both cases, we focus on what is known about how these cellular changes alter these immune cells' interactions with the oral microbiota, including how such changes can lead to worsening, rather than improving, disease states.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Macrophage Activation; Macrophages; Microbiota; Mouth; Mouth Neoplasms; Neutrophils; Periodontal Diseases
PubMed: 35069541
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.768479 -
Archives of Microbiology Aug 2021A homeostatic balance exists between the resident microbiota in the oral cavity and the host. Perturbations of the oral microbiota under particular conditions can... (Review)
Review
A homeostatic balance exists between the resident microbiota in the oral cavity and the host. Perturbations of the oral microbiota under particular conditions can contribute to the growth of non-oral pathogens that are hard to kill because of their higher resistance to antimicrobials, raising the probability of treatment failure and reinfection. The presence of these bacteria in the oral cavity has been proven to be associated with several oral diseases such as periodontitis, caries, and gingivitis, and systemic diseases of importance in clinical medicine such as cystic fibrosis, HIV, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, it is still controversial whether these species are merely transient members or unique to the oral cavity. Mutualistic and antagonistic interactions between the oral microbiota and non-oral pathogens can also occur, though the mechanisms used by these bacteria are not clear. Therefore, this review presents an overview of the current knowledge about the presence of non-oral bacteria in the oral cavity, their relationship with systemic and oral diseases, and their interactions with oral bacteria.
Topics: Bacteria; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Mouth
PubMed: 33791834
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02300-y -
Clinical Oral Investigations Jun 2023This study aims to review the role of the oral cavity in SARS-CoV-2- and other viral upper respiratory tract infections. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to review the role of the oral cavity in SARS-CoV-2- and other viral upper respiratory tract infections.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Data reviewed in the text have been researched online and also reflect personal expertise.
RESULTS
Numerous respiratory and other viruses replicate in the oral cavity and are transmitted via aerosols (< 5 µm) and droplets (> 5 µm). SARS-CoV-2 replication has been documented in the upper airways as well as in oral mucosa and salivary glands. These sites are also virus reservoirs that can infect other organs, e.g., the lungs and gastrointestinal tract, as well as other individuals. Laboratory diagnosis of viruses in the oral cavity and upper airways focuses on real-time PCR; antigen tests are less sensitive. For screening and monitoring infections, nasopharyngeal and oral swabs are tested; saliva is a good and more comfortable alternative. Physical means like social distancing or masks have been proven successful to reduce the risk of infection. Both wet-lab and clinical studies confirm that mouth rinses are effective against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. Antiviral mouth rinses can inactivate all viruses that replicate in the oral cavity.
CONCLUSIONS
The oral cavity plays an important role in viral infections of the upper respiratory tract: it serves as a portal of entry, a site of replication, and a source of infection by droplets and aerosols. Physical means but also antiviral mouth rinses can help reduce the spread of viruses and contribute to infection control.
Topics: Humans; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Mouthwashes; Respiratory Aerosols and Droplets; Virus Diseases; Mouth; Antiviral Agents
PubMed: 37310513
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-05078-z -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022The oral cavity harbors approximately 1,000 microbial species, and both pathogenic and commensal strains are involved in the development of carcinogenesis by stimulating... (Review)
Review
The oral cavity harbors approximately 1,000 microbial species, and both pathogenic and commensal strains are involved in the development of carcinogenesis by stimulating chronic inflammation, affecting cell proliferation, and inhibiting cell apoptosis. Moreover, some substances produced by oral bacteria can also act in a carcinogenic manner. The link between oral microbiota and chronic inflammation as well as cell proliferation has been well established. Recently, increasing evidence has indicated the association of the oral microbiota with cell migration, which is crucial in regulating devastating diseases such as cancer. For instance, increased cell migration induced the spread of highly malignant cancer cells. Due to advanced technologies, the mechanistic understanding of cell migration in carcinogenesis and cancer metastasis is undergoing rapid progress. Thus, this review addressed the complexities of cell migration in carcinogenesis and cancer metastasis. We also integrate recent findings on the molecular mechanisms by which the oral microbiota regulates cell migration, with emphasis on the effect of the oral microbiota on adhesion, polarization, and guidance. Finally, we also highlight critical techniques, such as intravital microscopy and superresolution microscopy, for studies in this field.
Topics: Carcinogenesis; Cell Movement; Humans; Inflammation; Microbiota; Mouth; Neoplasms
PubMed: 35573798
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.864479 -
Microbiology (Reading, England) Aug 2021In recent years, oral probiotics have been researched on their effectiveness in reducing and preventing oral diseases. Oral probiotics could be introduced into the oral... (Review)
Review
In recent years, oral probiotics have been researched on their effectiveness in reducing and preventing oral diseases. Oral probiotics could be introduced into the oral cavity to keep the equilibrium of the microbiome. Hence, the delivery carrier for oral probiotics plays an important factor to ensure a high number of oral probiotics were delivered and released into the oral cavity. This review presents a brief overview of oral microbiota and the role of oral probiotics in reducing oral diseases. Moreover, important aspects of the oral probiotic product such as viability, adherence ability, health effects, safety, and delivery site were discussed. Besides that, the importance of utilizing indigenous oral probiotics was also emphasized. Oral probiotics are commonly found in the market in the form of chewing tablets, lozenges, and capsules. Hence, the oral probiotic carriers currently used in the market and research were reviewed. Furthermore, this review introduces new potential oral probiotic delivery carriers such as oral strip, bucco-adhesive gel, and mouthwash. Their effectiveness in delivering oral probiotics for oral health was also explored.
Topics: Microbiota; Mouth; Oral Health; Probiotics
PubMed: 34351255
DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001076