Abstract
Diseases of the oral mucosa constitute a complex medical issue. The overlap of oral medicine with other medical disciplines (namely rheumatology, immunology, dermatology, transplantation medicine) is considerable.
In addition to benign mucosal diseases (e. g. geographic tongue, Fordyce's spots), patients may exhibit symptoms of various systemic disorders on the oral mucosa (autoimmune bullous disorders, malignant hematologic conditions). The lack of physicians dedicated to oral medicine increases the demands on primary care physicians but also on other medical experts, such as otorhinolaryngologists and dermatologists.
The aim of this article is to facilitate interdisciplinary cooperation between physicians of different medical specialties and to introduce the diagnostic and curative approach to selected mucosal diseases. The first part of the text is devoted to general information concerning the standard examination methods used in oral medicine.
The second part discusses the general therapeutic approach in patients with oral mucosal diseases, namely oral candidiasis. Primary care physicians will receive practical information regarding diagnostic and treatment options for oral mucosal diseases, including the patient's education part.