FUNGAL INFECTIONS OF THE ORAL MUCOSA

Course overview

FUNGAL INFECTIONS ARE COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED IN THE ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL REGIONS. THEY MAY PRESENT CLINICALLY IN THE ORAL CAVITY AS A PRIMARY INFECTION OR AS A MANIFESTATION OF THE INFECTION DISSEMINATION. MOST ORAL FUNGAL INFECTIONS ARE OPPORTUNISTIC IN NATURE. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION IS VITAL FOR DIAGNOSIS, ESPECIALLY IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS. CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF ORAL LESIONS, RECOGNITION, CORRECTION OF THE UNDERLYING PREDISPOSING FACTORS, AND ADMINISTRATION OF APPROPRIATE ANTIFUNGAL AGENTS BY THE DENTAL PROFESSIONAL IS THE CORNERSTONE OF MANAGING ORAL MYCOSES. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE EVALUATION OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS OF THE ORAL CAVITY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF THE DENTIST IN FRONTLINE TEAMS FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF THE CONDITION.