Prevalence of oral soft tissue lesions in Sangli, India

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral soft tissue lesions in patients who attended the outpatient department, at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College during a period of 18 months in 2009-2010. About 24,422 subjects belonging to a semi-urban district of Sangli in Western Maharastra (India) were screened. Out of these about 623 cases showed soft tissue lesions. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS software. 2.5% of the population studied had one or more oral lesions associated with prosthetic use, trauma and tobacco consumption etc. Six hundred and twenty-three patients were found to have significant mucosal lesions. 75 had leukoplakia, 152 had oral submucous fibrosis, 14 had both both leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis, 82 had oral squamous cell carcinoma, 35 had oral lichen planus, 195 had apthous ulcers, 23 had denture stomatitis, 28 had fibroma and 19 cases had pyogenic granuloma. The findings in the present study reveal a high prevalence of oral soft tissue lesions and a rampant misuse of variety of addictive substances in the community. Close follow up and systematic evaluation is required in this population. There is an urgent need for awareness programs involving the community health workers, dentists and allied medical professionals.