[Lesions of the oral mucosa. Epidemiological study of 7,297 patients]

To our Knowledge, this is the first work in a number population (higher than 500 sample WHO) that is carried out in our country about lesions in the Oral Mucosa. The advantages in this Kind of studies are recognized particularly in the fields of academic, research and services. This work presents the first view of a permanent research project of Oral Mucosa Lesions at the admission clinic, School of Dentistry, Universidad del Bajío. The findings are from the evaluation of 7,297 patients, 15 years or older, that seek dental services between January 1982 and June 1989 (7.5 years). The lack of national data and the oldest population samples in other countries studies stopped wider evaluations, even though the study purpose was not affected, it was possible to offer qualitative data in the respect of prevalecence, variety and etiopathogenesis of those type of pathosis in the Oral Mucosa. The general prevalecence in the group was approximately 13%, identifying lesions more frequently in males, but higher variety in females. Report on 40 different entities, presented in general according to a descent order of prevalencece and reagrouped by sex and pathology. In half the lesions was possible to identify as the cause, acute and cronic traumatic agents; The infectious associations were also very frequent. Those last observations are of high relevance concerning the prevention of Oral Mucosa lesions.