Recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Update for the general practitioner.

Patients presenting with oral mucosal disease can be challenging to diagnose and manage. There are several disorders that can present with similar clinical signs and symptoms, and knowledge of each disease will guide the clinician toward proper management. This article highlights recurrent aphthous stomatitis, a common ulcerative condition encountered in clinical practice. We review the etiology, clinical symptomatology, and topical/systemic therapies that are unique to this disorder and that will help clinicians diagnose and manage this condition.