Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria for patients enrolled in the study

Patients with an oral epithelial abnormality that appeared clinically benign- minimally suspicious- without any obvious etiology such as trauma or infection.

Patients with medical issues and dental appliances such as orthodontic or other fixed prostheses that could interfere with the examination were excluded.

Multiple oral lesions.

Oral lesions suggestive of dysplasia or cancer were excluded.

Patients with oral lesions that were either submucosal (i.e. cyst or salivary gland tumor) or covered with a clinically intact normal epithelium (i.e. hemangioma or fibroma).

Pigmented lesions such as nevi and amalgam tattoos as well as lip lesions, specifically on the vermilion border or cutaneous surfaces,