Risk Factors and Prevalence of dental caries, Oral Lesions and OSF among Oral tobacco Users in Karachi

Objectives: Determinining the relationship between the caries status and OT and to identify, types of pre-cancerous lesions.
Methods: 19 examiners examined 615 patients. Data collecting tool was self-generated Performa along with WHO form for oral examination. Males of 18-60 years consuming OT were examined. DMFT score, periodontal status, mouth opening status and oral mucosal conditions were recorded. Analysis was done using SPSS version 16.
Results: Most individuals consuming Gutka showed early signs of oral cancer and other oral mucosal conditions out of which Leukoplakia was the most common. OT consumption was highest (i.e. 59.3%) amongst LOW SES Category (monthly income <15000 PKR). Findings indicate a positive direct-relationship between Oral Tobacco Consumption and Oral pre-cancerous lesions. A direct association was found between OT Duration and Oral Lesion, in which as the subject increases duration directly leukoplakia increased too. Mild Fibrosis was observed in a majority of individuals and consumption of oral tobacco made a detrimental effect on the DMFT score. DMFT mean was =5.1610 which showed an extremely high deviation from the WHO criteria (mean<3).
Conclusions: The type of oral tobacco, the duration of consumption are directly related to the severity. Oral Tobacco consumption causes oral cancer, oral sub-mucosal fibrosis and affects the DMFT status.