We are grateful for the positive reception within the dental and medical communities of this textbook’s first edition. In this second edition its intention remains the same – to be a practical guide and reference source for the basic clinical aspects of soft tissue oral and maxillofacial disease. We also appreciate the constructive feedback received by colleagues that aided in this edition’s revisions. The names and organization of the book’s chapters remain the same. Within each chapter the cited references and/or recommended readings have been updated; however, in addition, the end of each chapter now contains selfassessment multiple‐choice questions with feedback comments on the correct answer and distractors. The revisions of Chapter 1 notably include a number of newly marketed diagnostic adjunctive devices and methods. Chapter 3 provides updated information on some of its pathologic conditions, particularly the nature of hemangiomas versus vascular malformations and the increasing clinical impact the human papillomavirus type 16 has on malignant transformation (i.e. squamous cell carcinoma) of specialized oropharyngeal epithelium as opposed to the oral cavity proper. Chapter 5 introduces the term “oral potentially malignant disorders” and initial commercial products designed to add additional information to their predicted clinical behavior and management. Appendix B has been extensively updated to reflect the ever‐changing drug formulary available to the clinician to treat oral soft tissue diseases. Lastly, some of the photographic images have been added or updated to enhance a lesion’s features. We hope our efforts have enhanced the utility of this textbook for your chairside evaluation, differential diagnosis formulation, establishment of provisional and final diagnosis, and management of your patient’s diagnosed oral mucosal diseases. Michael A. Kahn J. Michael Hall