Tobacco associated malignant and non-malignant lesions of the oral cavity

Abstract

Aim: To make a review on tobacco associated malignant and non malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Objective: To have a better knowledge on the tobacco associated lesions of oral cavity. Back ground: The excessive use of tobacco products has been associated with various lesions in the oral cavity. Tobacco associated lesions include tooth stains, abrasions, smokers melanosis, acute necrotizing, ulcerative gingivitis and other periodontical conditions, burns, and keratotic patches, black hairy tongue, nicotinic stomatitis, palatal erosions, leukoplakia, epithelial dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma. A routine intraoral examination by a dental health professional can reveal most of these lesions at an early stage , and early intervention may prevent serious sequelae. Here we describe malignant and non malignant lesions associated with tobacco use, basic biopsy principles for such lesions and intervention stratagies that dental professionals may use to reduce the chances of their patients developing precancerous lesions. The significance and treatment of non malignant and malignant lesions are described here. Reason: As oral lesions are very much common in population I was interested to know about the lesions associated due to conception of tobacco.