For this edition the text has been thoroughly revised and updated, but differs from previous editions in that it is confined almost entirely to oral diseases. The presentation of the subject has not however changed, and the book contains sufficient material and bibliographical references to stimulate the thoughtful undergraduate, as well as the postgraduate student. The major features of the book deal with the contribution of saliva and blood immune factors to the protection and development of dental caries, periodontal disease, oral, viral and fungal infections in addition to oral manifestations of autoimmunity and neoplastic diseases. New topics introduced in this edition include rapid advances in biotechnology, including monoclonal antibodies, synthetic peptides and recombinant DNA