This book is designed to re-establish the position of the oral cavity and its mucosa at the forefront of defence and maintenance of homeostatic mechanisms that protect against disease not just locally but also systemically. The oral mucosa is a unique collection of tissues that constitutes a highly active environment with its own unique microflora and homeostatic interaction with the innate and adaptive immune responses. As an immune tissue the oral mucosa was somewhat neglected in the past owing to the tendency to assume similarity to the gut mucosa. More recently it has become apparent that the oral mucosa is a complex environment and, like the esophageal mucosa, has more in common with vaginal tissue than with the gut. Furthermore, the ability of the oral mucosa to act as an immune inductive site has made it an attractive area of research in terms of desensitization for allergic reactions and possibly autoimmune responses. In this book, recognized experts in the field provide up-to-date coverage of all aspects of the structure and function of the oral mucosa, reflecting important recent advances in knowledge, including at the molecular level.

Lesley Ann Bergmeier, MRSB, CBiol, PhD, PGCAP, FHEA, is Reader in Oral Immunology at the Centre for Oral Immunology and Regenerative medicine , Barts and The London, Queen Marys Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK. She was also Honorary Visiting Senior Lecturer in the Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology at Kings College London, Dental Institute at Guys Hospital (2007-2011). Dr. Bergmeier is an elected member of both the Royal Society of Biology (MSB) and the Institute of Biology (with designated status as a Chartered Biologist). In 2009 and 2014 she served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the World Workshop in Oral Health and AIDS. Dr. Bergmeier is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Experimental Dental Science. She is the author of 75 peer-reviewed papers cited in PubMed including eight reviews, as well as five book chapters, and has an H-index of 30.

Introduction to the Oral Mucosa.- Structure and Function of the Oral Mucosa.- Barrier Functions.- Biology of the Oral Epithelia.- The Interface of Mucosa and Hard Tissues.- Cell/Cell Interactions.- Oral Microbiome.- Antimicrobial Functions of Cells and Secretions.- Saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluids.- Inflammation.- Immune Responses.- Systemic Disease and the Oral Cavity: Inside Out.- The Oral Cavity and Systemic Disease: Outside In.- Homeostasis and Disease Mechanisms.- Molecular Mechanisms.- Experimental Biology and the Oral Mucosa.