Risk factors for oral soft tissue lesions in an adult Spanish population.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were (i) to determine the prevalence of oral lesions in adults over 30 years old in the city of Oviedo (Spain), and (ii) to analyze the relationship between the prevalence of oral lesions, toxic habits (tobacco and alcohol) and denture wearers in these patients. METHODS: A representative sample of the adult population in Oviedo (Spain) was obtained through randomized sampling (n = 753); a total of 308 (41%) subjects were finally included in the study. The observed oral pathology was classified according to the WHO criteria and earlier epidemiological studies. RESULTS: A little over half of all patients (51.1%) had oral lesions. The most frequent lesions were frictional lesion (7.5%), traumatic ulcer (7.1%), denture stomatitis and pseudomembranous candidosis (6.5%), followed by melanin pigmentation (5.8%) and denture-induced hyperplasia (5.2%), plicated tongue (3.9%), lichen planus and hemangioma (3.2%), angular cheilitis and cheek biting (2.9%), fibrous hyperplasia and coated tongue (2.6%), recurrent aphthae (1.9%) and oral leukoplakia (1.6%). In relation to leukoplakia, the odds ratio (OR) of heavy drinkers was 15.98 and the OR of heavy smokers was 12.37. The OR of heavy smokers or heavy drinkers diagnosed of frictional lesion was four times greater than that of nonsmokers or nondrinkers. The OR of heavy smokers with melanic pigmentations was 4.08. The OR of complete denture wearers with candidosis was 11.38. The OR of partial removable denture wearers with hemangioma was 5.01. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the relation of heavy tobacco and heavy alcohol to traumatic keratosis and leukoplakia, and of complete dentures to pseudomembranous candidosis, fibrous hyperplasia and stomatitis. Programs designed to eradicate toxic factors (alcohol and tobacco) should, therefore, be implemented with adequate maintenance of dentures.

Epidemiological study of oral mucosa pathology in patients of the Oviedo School of Stomatology.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the present study were: 1) to determine the frequency of oral mucosa lesions and to analyze their relationship with toxic habits (tobacco and alcohol), and 2) to determine the prevalence of the oral pathology in patients who are denture wearers, to establish necessities for treatment and the opportune preventive measures. STUDY DESIGN: The study was carried out in patients attending the Oviedo Stomatology School to receive treatment for periodontal or prosthodontic dental pathology; but not for oral mucosal disorders. 337 patients were examined (140 males and 197 females). The ages ranged from 30 to 85 years. A clinical protocol was elaborated which included lesions previously reported in epidemiological studies. RESULTS: The number of patient with lesions was 198 (58,75%). The pathology diagnosed with more frequency was Melanin Pigmentation (n=83; 24,6%), followed by Frictional Keratosis (n=39; 11,5%), Linea Alba (n=34; 10,7%), Cheek Biting (n=23; 6,8%) and Traumatic Ulcer (n=16; 4,7%). In the patients who were denture wearers, the most frequent pathology was Hyperplasia (n=17; 5%) and Stomatitis (n=9; 2,6%). A statistically significant relation was observed between denture wearers and Traumatic Keratosis, Leucoplakia and Candidosis Pseudomembranous; tobacco habit and Leucoplakia presence, Frictional Keratosis and Melanin Pigmentation; and between alcohol habit and Traumatic Keratosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results have shown the necessity to periodically examine denture wearers, and to establish the opportune preventive measures to eradicate the pathology that this causes. The observation of the association between Traumatic Keratosis, and two factors related with the etiology and prognosis of oral cancer should awake maximum interest in its correct diagnosis and treatment.