Pathological Evaluation and Correlation of Stages of Oral Submucous Fibrosis with Different Habits
Over the past several decades of industrialization, human beings are subjected to physical and mental stress and relieving this stress by taking stress-relieving habits such as smoking, alcohol, betel nut chewing, pan chewing, etc. These different habits and cultural practices time and again have been abusing the oral cavity. In day-to-day clinical practice, our dental researchers reported different oral mucosal alterations. OSMF is one such pathological condition. Keeping the above points in view the purpose of this study is to correlate the clinical staging and histopathological grading of OSMF with different habit and habit variables to assess the severity of the disease.
Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is a precancerous condition and is mainly associated with the chewing of areca nut. This study was undertaken to correlate the etiological factors (duration, frequency, style and chewing habit) associated with OSMF with clinical grading and histological staging. The widespread habit of chewing gutkha plays a major role in the development of Oral Submucous Fibrosis than any other habit. The duration and frequency of its use and type of areca nut product has effect on the incidence and severity of OSMF.
The widespread habit of chewing gutkha has major role in the occurrence and severity of OSMF, especially in younger age group. The occurrence of OSMF in gutkha chewers is faster and more severe as compared to any other forms of areca nut products. The relative risk of disease increased with frequency and manner of chewing which conclude that the daily consumption rate appears to be relatively significant with respect to risk than the lifelong duration of habit. The histological grade should be considered as the gold standard in deciding the treatment plan and routine surveillance programme should be carried out in order to stop this perilous habit.