Intraoral Dissection of the Mimetic Muscles: Application to Dentistry and Oral Surgery

Mimetic muscles contract and pull the overlying skin toward the muscle’s bony attachment. Numerous books and articles have shown the mimetic muscles via cadaveric dissection. However, for dentistry and oral surgery, the mimetic muscles have not been detailed from intraoral dissection. Recently, several papers have addressed various mimetic muscles in relation to intraoral dissection. However, to our knowledge, there has been no overview of these muscles beneath the oral mucosa. Here, we review the literature concerning the mimetic muscles as revealed during intraoral dissection, create novel illustrations, and discuss the relationship of these muscles with general dentistry and oral surgery. The mimetic muscles, which constitute the surface of the oral mucosa, the relationship of the labial and buccal frenulum and mimetic muscles, the relationship of the mucogingival junction and mimetic muscles, and other surgical procedures are discussed. A better understanding of the mimetic muscles from an intraoral perspective is important for those performing oral surgery and dentistry.