English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic progressive scarring disease of oral cavity and oropharynx characterized by epithelial atrophy and juxta epithelial inflammatory reaction with progressive fibrosis of the lamina propria an deeper connective tissue. In india, the first mention of this disease in literature dates back to the time of Sushruta as Vidari. However, in modern literature, Schwartz in 1952 first described it as atrophica idiopathica mucosaeoris. Antioxidants Protects by physically separating the free oxygen radicals from the susceptible molecules. Providing molecules that effectively compete with the oxygen. Rapidly repair the damage caused by the free radicals. Lysing & inactivating free radicals, removing damaged molecules. Body's multilevel defense systems against free radicals. AIMS & OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to see effect of various antioxidant drugs on oral submucous fibrosis clinically as well histopathologically. MATERIAL & METHODS: This study comprises of 64 patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis. History, examination and investigation of patients were done in detail as per predesigned proforma. OBSERVATIONS: Submucous fibrosis was seen from 2nd to 6th decade of life. Males were more commonly affected (65.625%) than females (34.375%). The incidence of submucous fibrosis is higher in Hindus (87.5%) than Muslims (12.5%). maximum number of the patients were between 1 and 2 years duration or between 5 and 10 years duration (16 cases in each group. Table shows that 50% of the patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis had been chewing pan - masala and betel nut. In our series of study maximum cases were of severe grade trismus (32.81%). In this study we gave antioxidants drugs to the patients for a period of 2-3 months. Symptoms of burning sensation of mouth were relieved in 64.51% of cases by antioxidant therapy. Repeated painful ulcerations of mouth were relieved in 70% cases by antioxidant therapy. Suppleness of oral tissue was improved in 80.00% cases by antioxidant therapy. The symptom of trismus was relieved in 26.19% cases by antioxidant therapy. Out of 64 cases of oral submucous fibrosis 36 cases improved on therapy (56.25%) No patient got complete cure by therapy and there were 16 cases who failed on therapy (25%). There were 12 cases (18.75%) that did not come for follow up. CONCLUSION: Thus our work is showing that anti-oxidant drugs are overall favourable for early cases of oral submucous fibrosis clinically as well as histopathologically. So we conclude that anti-oxidant therapy should be regularly used in cases of oral submucous fibrosis.