| dc.description.abstract | According to the World Health Organization there are
almost two billion people worldwide who consume
alcohol on a regular basis . It’s a common abuse and
almost 80 million are diagnosed with “alcohol abuse
disorders” (WHO 2002, 2004). Alcoholism is a chronic
and progressive psychiatric illness characterized by a
loss of control over alcohol consumption. Consumption
of alcohol inevitably affects the oral cavity, oral mucosa
and teeth. Literature indicates that alcohol dependents
may have increased risk of dental caries, probing
pocket depth and mucosal lesions. With respect to oral
health, alcohol is among the most important risk factors
for oral cancer [6,7]. Alcohol causes a change in the rate
of penetration of substances from the oral environment
across the mucosa and this alteration of mucosal
permeability may have a role to play in carcinogenesis
[1]. Evidence suggests that the increasing incidence of
oral cancer, particularly in younger people, is associated
with increased alcohol intake rather than tobacco use
[8]. While increased alcohol consumption has also been
associated with an increased risk of oral premalignant
lesions, there is a paucity of data concerning the
prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in persons with a
history of alcohol abuse
Aim of the study :
• To assess the impact of alcohol dependency on oral
health status among alcoholics in comparison with non
alcoholics | en_US |
