Knowledge of the structures of the orofacial region from the macroscopic scale to the molecular level and pathologic changes to those structures enables practitioners to successfully treat patients or seek treatment options. This book presents the structural biologic foundations underpinning dental and oral medicine. Beginning with an overview of the anatomy of the mouth and moving on to the evolution of the oral structures and pre— and postnatal development of the oral cavity, related facial structures, and the teeth, this book describes each part of the orofacial region in terms of its morphology, tissue structure, cellular properties, and development. Functioning as both a textbook for dental students and a reference manual for experienced clinicians, this compendium of the structural biologic foundations of clinical work in dental and oral medicine allows practitioners to integrate current research in molecular biology into a solid framework of knowledge.
