Impact of Alcohol Dependency on Oral Health
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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