Smoking and alcohol as potential risk factors for changes on masticatory mucosae

Abstract

It is assumed that before there are clinically verified signs of irritation, risk factors can cause changes on tissue, which was the subject of our research. The aim of this study was to establish how much ciggarete smoking, alcohol drinking and gender exerted influence on pathohistological changes on clinically healthy masticatory mucosae. Our results were based on anamnestic answers and pathohistological examination of biopsies from edentulous alveolar ridge of clinically healthy masticator mucosae. The sample consisted of 40 patients, of bouth gender. Conclusions are that smokers have, 25% more chance of having pathohistologicaly verified hyperceratosis on masticatory mucosae than nonsmokers. There are no significant differences between sex in correlation with pathohistologicaly verified changes on masticatory mucosae which are caused by smoking. Persons who consume alcohol have a greater chance of having pathohistologicaly verified changes on masticatory mucosae. Persons who smoke ciggaretes and consume alcohol drinks are most likely, 50% and more, to have pathohistologicaly verified hyperceratosis on masticatory mucosae.