Cutaneous wound healing’s usual endpoint is scar formation. In contrast to the skin, the oral mucosa heals in a scarless manner, despite undergoing the same stages of the healing process. While wound environment may play a part, studies have demonstrated that inherent differences in the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the resident fibroblast populations may have a role in mediating this differential healing. This article analyses the evidence surrounding scarless healing in the oral mucosa and discusses future areas of research and highlights the potential clinical implications of this fascinating phenomenon.
