Saliva plays a significant role in the preservation and maintenance of oral health and function. It supports digestion by preparing food for mastication and swallowing, contributes to taste perception, facilitates speech communication and provides oral tissues...

Routine evaluation of a patient’s temporo-mandibular joint function is an integral part of any oral examination.
Moreover, good muscular control and painless coordination of jaw movements are desirable in the management of edentulism...

The key to understanding maxillo-mandibular jaw relations from a patient-centered treatment point of view is to recognize the inseparable nature of the mandible’s two positions - vertical and horizontal. They can be discussed...

The recording of patient-specific vertical and horizontal jaw relations is a necessary starting point when planning for the occlusal rehabilitation. They are integral components of the mandible’s centric relation (CR)...

Most patients’ mouth opening readily permits access for routine prosthodontic and surgical treatment interventions. Limited mouth opening or microstomia is encountered in patients exposed to sclerodermia, diffuse systemic...

Optimal esthetic treatment outcomes require a harmonious reconciliation between lip morhology and teeth positioning. Lips provide a picture frame for the anterior teeth that support them; with mouth size and labial contours depending on genetically...

A steroid is an organic compound and a type of lipid substance. Steroids play a critical role in metabolism, for example, as the dietary fat Cholesterol, as bile acids or as steroid hormones (e.g. Cortisone/Glucocorticoids, Estrogens, Testosterone). The more complex...

Bisphosphonates (BP) inhibit osteoclast activity and remain in the bone for a prolonged period. Bisphosphonates are the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat osteoporosis, bone fragility disorders, like Paget’s disease, osteogenesis imperfecta...

Patients may have compromised blood coagulation due to inherited hemophilia or acquired disorders of coagulation resulting from preventive anticoagulant therapy in case of cardiovascular diseases. There are also states of heightened coagulation...

Osteoporosis is a frequent disease affecting predominantly postmenopausal women. The prevalence is 7% in women aged 55 and raises to 19% in women aged 80. Osteoporosis is diagnosed by a decreased radiologic bone density (DXA-score). Primary osteoporosis is more...

Diabetes refers to metabolic diseases where blood sugar levels are too high, a condition termed hyperglycemia, and where symptoms as increased hunger, weight loss, more frequent urination, weakness and fatigue and excessive thirst are observed. High...

It is important to evaluate signs indicating if the patient abuses alcohol or takes recreational drugs and may have developed addictions. In general these drugs have a psychedelic,...

The medical history should reveal if the patient takes any prescribed medication and especially whether in the correct dosage. Fear of oral surgery may induce a temporary overconsumption of drugs such as beta-blockers or...

Smoking and nicotine consumption have a constrictive effect on blood vessels thereby reducing blood supply. It increases the susceptibility to periodontal inflammatory diseases, dry extraction sockets and wound healing...

Implant based treatment is a comprehensive long-term therapy with various treatment steps and ongoing need for adequate aftercare. It therefore requires considerable involvement, cooperation and dedication – compliance – from the patient. Therefore, during the...