Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Exp Med. Mar 20, 2026; 16(1): 115535
Published online Mar 20, 2026. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.115535
Published online Mar 20, 2026. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.115535
Evidence-based review and clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and management of common oral mucosal lesions
Giath Gazal, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aleppo University, Aleppo 12212, Syria
Anas B Alsalhani, Department of Dentistry, Vision Colleges, Riyadh 13226-3830, Saudi Arabia
Anas B Alsalhani, Department of Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hama, Hama 12345, Syria
Bassel Tarakji, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Zakaria Nassani, Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh 13314, Saudi Arabia
Author contributions: Gazal G and Nassani MZ conceptualized and designed the study; Gazal G drafted the original manuscript; Alsalhani AB, Tarakji B, and Nassani MZ critically revised the manuscript; All authors conducted the literature review and participated in the analysis and interpretation of data; All authors read and approved the final submitted version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Corresponding author: Mohammad Zakaria Nassani, DDS, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Northern Ring Road, Exit 7, Al Falah District, Riyadh 13314, Saudi Arabia.
Received: October 20, 2025
Revised: November 19, 2025
Accepted: January 20, 2026
Published online: March 20, 2026
Processing time: 147 Days and 9.9 Hours
Revised: November 19, 2025
Accepted: January 20, 2026
Published online: March 20, 2026
Processing time: 147 Days and 9.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This minireview provided general dental practitioners with a practical, evidence-based guide for the diagnosis and management of common oral mucosal lesions. It introduced a clinical classification framework based on lesion appearance, site, and risk, together with evidence-based first-line and adjunctive treatment options. Diagnostic pathways, severity-based escalation protocols, and integrative herbal therapies were also outlined. By integrating conventional and validated complementary therapies into a single decision-support framework, this minireview aimed to enhance diagnostic accuracy, support safe and effective management, and bridge conventional and integrative strategies in the care of patients with oral mucosal lesions.