ABSTRACT
Aim: To evaluate the association between oral health status, socio-demographic and behavioralfactors with the pattern of maturity of normal epithelial oral mucosa. Methods: Exfoliative cytologyspecimens were collected from 117 men from the border of the tongue and floor of the mouth onopposite sides. Cells were stained with the Papanicolaou method and classified into: anucleated,superficial cells with nuclei, intermediate and parabasal cells. Quantification was made by selectingthe first 100 cells in each glass slide. Sociodemographic and behavioral variables were collected froma structured questionnaire. Oral health was analyzed by clinical examination, recording decayed,missing and filled teeth index (DMFT) and use of prostheses. Multivariable linear regression modelswere applied. Results: No significant differences for all studied variables influenced the patternof maturation of the oral mucosa except for alcohol consumption. There was an increase of cellsurface layers of the epithelium with the chronic use of alcohol. Conclusions: It is appropriate to usePapanicolaou cytopathological technique to analyze the maturation pattern of exposed subjects,with a strong recommendation for those who use alcohol - a risk factor for oral cancer, in which achange in the proportion of cell types is easily detected.