The aim of the course is to provide dental hygiene students with the tools to recognize the main diseases affecting the oral mucosa, perioral skin, jaw bones, and salivary glands. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing the ability to stratify risk among different oral lesions in order to identify those with potential for malignant transformation or those requiring referral to a specialist in oral pathology and medicine. Furthermore, the course aims to provide dental hygiene students with both theoretical and applied knowledge of general and specialized microbiology, with particular reference to the pathogenesis of dental caries, periodontal disease, viral, bacterial and fungal infections, as well as the occupational risks related to HIV and HBV-HCV infections