Fig. (3) Histological sections of (a) healthy palate mucosa (control) never covered by a full denture showing the classical strata of keratinocytes near the basement membrane (BM). The interface between the BM and the underlying connective tissue exhibited a regular limit (arrow). (b) Histology of the BM in patients with class II denture stomatitis. Note that the junction between the epithelium and the underlying connective tissue is not clearly visible (arrow). (Mallory Azan staining, magnification x360).