The Role of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Oral Inflammatory Diseases

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) refers to a process in which epithelial cells shed their polarity and intercellular adhesion while adopting mesenchymal traits. Emerging evidence indicates that EMT is critically involved in the pathogenesis of several oral inflammatory diseases, including periodontitis, drug-induced gingival overgrowth, and Sjögren's syndrome. A thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing EMT may help elucidate the pathogenesis of these diseases and provide new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for clinical practice. This review will focus on the recent research progress regarding the role of EMT in the above three oral inflammatory diseases, with the aim of offering insights for related research and clinical applications.