Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (655 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The oval-shaped oral cavity located at the apex of the digestive tract and consisting of two parts: the vestibule and the oral cavity proper.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Cavitas Oris; Oral Cavity; Cavity, Oral; Vestibule of the Mouth; Vestibule Oris; Oral Cavity Proper; Cavitas oris propria; Mouth Cavity Proper.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Face; Gastrointestinal Tract; Stomatognathic System
- Narrower topics
- Lip; Dentition; Salivary Glands; Tongue; Mouth Floor; Mouth Mucosa; Palate
- See also
- Oral Manifestations; Surgery, Oral
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 344,443 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Mouth” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 51,681 of them (15.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 155,053 records.
Reviews account for 23,349 records (6.8%) and meta-analyses for 1,956. Randomized controlled trials number 10,919 (3.2%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 155,053 |
| 2000-2009 | 58,392 |
| 2010-2019 | 79,317 |
| 2020 onward | 51,681 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 23,349 | 6.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 1,956 | 0.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 10,919 | 3.2% |
Method: PubMed query "Mouth"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adverse Oral Mucosal Reaction to Sublingual Captopril: A Case Report With Exploratory Insights Into AI-Assisted Clinical Reasoning | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42499297 · DOI · PMC13401081 |
| Dental Microwear Evidence of Holocene Dietary Variability in the Argentinian Pampas and Paraná Delta | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42670638 · DOI · PMC13527593 |
| A Novel FAM83H Truncation Mutation Disrupts Enamel Mineralization in Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcified Amelogenesis Imperfecta | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42594261 · DOI · PMC13472511 |
Adverse Oral Mucosal Reaction to Sublingual Captopril: A Case Report With Exploratory Insights Into AI-Assisted Clinical Reasoning [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- AimsTo describe a probable oral mucosal injury associated with the off-label sublingual administration of captopril in a medically complex patient, and to illustrate the role of structured clinical reasoning in identifying route-related adverse drug reactions, with exploratory insights into AI-assisted reasoning.
- Closing excerpt
- This case also illustrates that AI-assisted reasoning is highly dependent on the structure and quality of clinical input, supporting its role as a complementary cognitive tool rather than an autonomous diagnostic system.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (217 words)
AimsTo describe a probable oral mucosal injury associated with the off-label sublingual administration of captopril in a medically complex patient, and to illustrate the role of structured clinical reasoning in identifying route-related adverse drug reactions, with exploratory insights into AI-assisted reasoning.Methods and resultsA 77-year-old patient presented with persistent burning pain and a progressive oral mucosal lesion on the floor of the mouth. Despite appropriate management of local infectious and mechanical factors, symptoms worsened over time. A consistent temporal relationship was observed between lesion exacerbation and repeated sublingual captopril use during hypertensive episodes. Structured clinical reasoning, including iterative causal analysis, supported identification of a probable route-related adverse drug reaction. Discontinuation of sublingual captopril, combined with topical corticosteroid therapy, resulted in complete resolution of the lesion. An exploratory interaction with a large language model was conducted to examine how structured clinical input may influence the coherence and clinical relevance of AI-assisted reasoning.ConclusionSublingual administration of captopril may cause localized chemical injury to the oral mucosa, particularly in vulnerable patients with complex medical conditions. Recognition of route-specific adverse effects is essential to avoid unnecessary interventions and improve patient outcomes. This case also illustrates that AI-assisted reasoning is highly dependent on the structure and quality of clinical input, supporting its role as a complementary cognitive tool rather than an autonomous diagnostic system.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42499297 · DOI · PMC13401081
Dental Microwear Evidence of Holocene Dietary Variability in the Argentinian Pampas and Paraná Delta [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectivesThis study explores the subsistence strategies of Middle-to-Late Holocene human populations in the Argentinean Pampas and Paraná River Delta by analyzing dental microwear patterns.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings underscore that prehistoric subsistence strategies emerged from complex interactions between ecological constraints and cultural practices, including food processing and social organization.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (212 words)
ObjectivesThis study explores the subsistence strategies of Middle-to-Late Holocene human populations in the Argentinean Pampas and Paraná River Delta by analyzing dental microwear patterns.Materials and methodsWe examined occlusal molar microwear textures of individuals from the Middle and Late Holocene recovered from 12 archaeological sites across three ecologically distinct areas: the Upper Delta of the Paraná River, Central Pampas, and the lower Colorado River Valley.ResultsOur results reveal both expected and unexpected trends. Individuals from the resource-rich Upper Delta of the Paraná River exhibited the predicted high dietary diversity (indicated by elevated mean heterogeneity (Hasfc81) values) but also showed surprisingly high mean complexity values (Asfc)-exceeding even those from the two semi-arid areas (Central Pampas and lower Colorado River Valley), where environmental abrasives would have been expected to have resulted in greater microwear texture complexity.DiscussionWithin the Paraná Delta, significant intra-site variation at Los Tres Cerros 1 suggests differential food access, possibly tied to social stratification in the Goya-Malabrigo archaeological entity. In the Central Pampas, Middle Holocene individuals from the Arroyo Seco 2 archaeological site displayed greater dietary heterogeneity than contemporaneous and Late Holocene sites, contradicting expectations of progressive diversification during this period. These findings underscore that prehistoric subsistence strategies emerged from complex interactions between ecological constraints and cultural practices, including food processing and social organization.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42670638 · DOI · PMC13527593
A Novel FAM83H Truncation Mutation Disrupts Enamel Mineralization in Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcified Amelogenesis Imperfecta [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectivesAutosomal dominant hypocalcified amelogenesis imperfecta (ADHCAI; OMIM#130900) is a hereditary enamel defect caused by truncation mutations in FAM83H, though the underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood.
- Closing excerpt
- This expands the FAM83H mutational spectrum, offers preliminary mechanistic insight, and suggests potential targets for pre-eruptive therapeutic strategies.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (226 words)
ObjectivesAutosomal dominant hypocalcified amelogenesis imperfecta (ADHCAI; OMIM#130900) is a hereditary enamel defect caused by truncation mutations in FAM83H, though the underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to identify novel FAM83H mutations in a Chinese family with ADHCAI and to investigate their functional consequences on enamel formation.Materials and methodsA three-generation ADHCAI family underwent clinical and genetic evaluation. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were used for mutation identification. The proband's enamel was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Structural impacts of the mutation were predicted bioinformatically (PSIPRED, SWISS-MODEL). Patient-derived periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) were assessed by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and quantitative real-time PCR for key enamel matrix proteins (AMELX, AMBN, ENAM) and osteogenic markers (RUNX2, ALP).ResultsA novel heterozygous nonsense mutation (c.1819G>T, p.(Glu607*)) in FAM83H was identified, resulting in a C-terminally truncated protein lacking 573 residues that mislocalizes from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. SEM-EDX revealed disorganized enamel ultrastructure, a reduced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, and increased porosity. Functional analysis in PDLCs showed coordinated downregulation of enamel matrix proteins and osteogenic markers, indicating a dual regulatory role for FAM83H in biomineralization.ConclusionsOur findings are consistent with the "presecretory pathogenesis" model for ADHCAI, wherein nuclear-mislocalized truncated FAM83H may disrupt enamel mineralization partly through transcriptional suppression of matrix components. This expands the FAM83H mutational spectrum, offers preliminary mechanistic insight, and suggests potential targets for pre-eruptive therapeutic strategies.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42594261 · DOI · PMC13472511
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Gingival phenotype modification therapies on natural teeth: A network meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Oral microflora and pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Efficacy of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) in late adolescents and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Antibiotics to prevent complications following tooth extractions [7]
- Research article Prevalence of root canal treatment worldwide: A systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Selective, stepwise, or nonselective removal of carious tissue: which technique offers lower risk for the treatment of dental caries in permanent teeth? A systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
References
- Júnior ARG, Velane CM, Magario CAM, Pina PS, Domaneschi C, Esteves CV. Adverse Oral Mucosal Reaction to Sublingual Captopril: A Case Report With Exploratory Insights Into AI-Assisted Clinical Reasoning. . 2026. PMID 42499297 · DOI · PMC13401081
- Carvalho MRG, Messineo PG, van Raap MAR, Flensborg G, Martínez G, Scheifler NA, et al.. Dental Microwear Evidence of Holocene Dietary Variability in the Argentinian Pampas and Paraná Delta. . 2026. PMID 42670638 · DOI · PMC13527593
- Wang Y, Chen H, Lai J, Huang X, Huang Y. A Novel FAM83H Truncation Mutation Disrupts Enamel Mineralization in Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcified Amelogenesis Imperfecta. . 2026. PMID 42594261 · DOI · PMC13472511
- Barootchi S, Tavelli L, Zucchelli G, Giannobile WV, Wang HL. Gingival phenotype modification therapies on natural teeth: A network meta-analysis. J Periodontol. 2020. PMID 32392401 · DOI
- Jang H, Patoine A, Wu TT, Castillo DA, Xiao J. Oral microflora and pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2021. PMID 34413437 · DOI · PMC8377136
- Kapetanović A, Theodorou CI, Bergé SJ, Schols JGJH, Xi T. Efficacy of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) in late adolescents and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Orthod. 2021. PMID 33882127 · DOI · PMC8186837
- Lodi G, Azzi L, Varoni EM, Pentenero M, Del Fabbro M, Carrassi A, et al.. Antibiotics to prevent complications following tooth extractions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021. PMID 33624847 · DOI · PMC8094158
- León-López M, Cabanillas-Balsera D, Martín-González J, Montero-Miralles P, Saúco-Márquez JJ, Segura-Egea JJ. Prevalence of root canal treatment worldwide: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Endod J. 2022. PMID 36016509 · DOI · PMC9826350
- Barros MMAF, De Queiroz Rodrigues MI, Muniz FWMG, Rodrigues LKA. Selective, stepwise, or nonselective removal of carious tissue: which technique offers lower risk for the treatment of dental caries in permanent teeth? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Oral Investig. 2020. PMID 31773371 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.