Oral Health and Disease: What You Should Know

This groundbreaking volume offers a wealth of practical insights into oral health, oral diseases, and effective daily oral care routines, empowering readers to take proactive control of their oral health. This book is a guide to oral health and common diseases and is designed to serve as a comprehensive “how to” manual for practitioners and patients. It is divided into 5 parts starting with an introduction to oral health including the history of dentistry, the WHO policy for oral health and an overview of oral anatomy. The second part deals with global trends in oral health discussing the global burden of oral diseases, their risk factors as well as nutrition, sugar consume and fluoridation in dentistry. Common patient-related complaints of oral diseases like dental pain, tooth deformation, gum disease, tongue and lip disorders, jawbone infections, oral ulcers and oral cancer are discussed in the third part. The fourth part on common oral diagnostic methods explains tissue sampling and imaging methods and is followed by the final part on oral hygiene and home oral care recommendations giving advice on tobacco cessation, infection control measures used in dental practice and lifestyleconsiderations for improved oral health. This book is a companion for all dentists, dental hygienists and patients who want to learn about the importance of oral health for general wellbeing. This groundbreaking volume offers a wealth of practical insights into oral health, oral diseases, and effective daily oral care routines, empowering readers to take proactive control of their oral health. Drawing on the expertise of over 80 contributors from around the globe, it provides a genuinely international perspective through 142 concise chapters organised into sixteen thematic sections. Presented in a user-friendly Q and A format, the book offers clear and accessible explanations to guide readers through essential topics with ease and confidence. Starting with the history of dentistry and the global burden of oral disease, the volume examines the anatomy and function of maxillofacial structures, orofacial pain, dental trauma, and a wide range of disorders affecting the teeth, gingiva, and jawbones. It covers non-neoplastic soft tissue conditions, as well as benign and malignant tumours of the oral cavity, jaws, and salivary glands, and emphasises the vital link between oral and systemic health. Additional sections introduce key diagnostic tools, treatment approaches, pharmacological therapies, at-home oral care strategies, and important insights into family dentistry. This volume serves not only as a vital resource for the general public but also as an effective instrument for patient education in clinical settings, and a valuable addition to academic, public, and healthcare libraries worldwide.