International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Authors
Dr. Anjani Kumar Shukla, Dr. Ravi Kumar, Dr. Ashok Kumar

Abstract
Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic, progressive, scaring high risk precancerous condition of the oral mucosa seen primarily in the Indian subcontinent and in South East Asia. The exact etiology of OSMF is not well understood. Various factors are being studied such as genetic, autoimmune, nutritional and environmental agents, yet there is a big lacunae in the present scenario of evidence based dentistry which correlates the role of critical components of a habit such as duration, frequency, chewing time to the clinical grading of OSMF. Aims: To correlate the etiological factors to the severity of clinical grading along duration, frequency and style of chewing habit. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study of 400 oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients who attended the dental college Bareilly, over a period of 3 years was done. Results: Among cases, grade I OSMF was seen in (199), grade II OSMF in (112) and grade III OSMF in (89) subjects, with a male to female ratio of 2.3:1. Gutkha, Pan masala and other arecanut products was practiced most commonly and showed significant risk with the severity of OSMF. Conclusion: The relative risk of OSMF increased with duration, frequency and style of chewing habits for longer duration and swallowing it without spitting.