Oral submucous fibrosis in North Gujarat: A demographic study

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a premalignant disorder, mainly caused by betel nut chewing in various forms. It is found in the Asian subcontinent, mostly India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The understanding of the exact role of alkaloids and other etiological agents with respect to pathogenesis will help in the management and treatment modalities. Aim: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the epidemiologic profile of patients with OSMF in the North Gujarat population. Materials and Methods: Patients of OSMF attending the OPD of Siddhpur Dental College were selected for the study. Total numbers of 100 cases of clinically diagnosed OSMF were included for this study. A detailed case history was taken and clinical examination was done in visible light. The patients having difficulty in opening the mouth along with associated blanched oral mucosa with palpable fibrous bands were diagnosed as OSMF patients were included in this study. This study was done on the basis of age group, habit duration, types of habit, and clinical grading of OSMF. After collecting data, they were analyzed statistically. Results: From 100 OSMF patients majority had Grade III interincisal mouth opening. Among the groups divided based on age, Group II (15–30 years age) showed more prevalence than the others. Gutkha and masala (main content areca nut) were a powerful etiological factor (4%) among other etiological factors. Conclusion: OSMF predominantly affects younger age group adults with male predilection and the majority of patients presented with a progressive and advanced form of disease. Thus, advancement in diagnostic aids is required to arrest the disease in its initial stages.