A Caucasian man aged 63 years with a history of heavy smoking and occasional alcohol drinking presented with concerns regarding a hard lump in the middle of his hard palate.

A girl aged 11 years had multiple visits to the general practitioner and emergency department with unusual episodes of sudden-onset respiratory distress associated with stridor.

Education in oral health literacy is key, and timely referral to dental practitioners may provide better patient outcomes with fewer potentially preventable hospitalisations.

Once infection spreads beyond the confines of the jaws, there is an increasing risk of airway obstruction and septicaemia.

The most commonly encountered swellings in the oral cavity are either submucosal in nature, or involve swelling of the underlying jaw (maxilla or mandible).

The most commonly encountered mucosal surface lesions are those of an epithelial break (ulcer) or an alteration in thickness, texture or colour (white, red or pigmented lesion).