title: Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis for dental practitioners.
abstract: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a well-known oral disease with unclear etiopathogenesis for which symptomatic therapy is only available. This kind of study aimed to highlight the main points that the general practitioners should be taken in their consideration. We have collected our data from PubMed line from 1972 to 2011. Our criteria included the papers that refer to the general predisposing factors, and the general treatment of RAS. Some papers which indicated to the specific details related to RAS that needed a consultant or specialist in Oral Medicine have not included. There is no clear guideline of the etiology, diagnosis, and management of RAS; therefore, the majority of the general practitioners refer most of the cases to appropriate specialist.
authors.affiliation: Head, Department of Oral Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bassel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tarakji
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madina Al Munawara, 41311, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Giath
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gazal
authors.affiliation: Head, Department of Oral Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sadeq Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Maweri
authors.affiliation: Head, Department of Oral Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saleh Nasser
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Azzeghaiby
authors.affiliation: Head, Department of Oral Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alaizari
keywords: Aphthous stomatitis; etiological factors; major aphthous stomatitis