Prevalence of smoker’s palate and smoker’s melanosis among patients visiting a private dental college

Abstract

Tobacco consumption including smoked or smokeless type is harmful for the oral mucosa as it promotes the development of oral cancer and oral mucosal lesions such as leukoplakia, smoker’s palate (nicotinic stomatitis), smoker’s melanosis and other types of lesions. A retrospective study was conducted in a dental hospital from July 2019 till March 2020. A total of 146 patients diagnosed with smoker’s palate, smoker’s melanosis or both were included in this study. The data variables including socio-demographic and patients diagnosed with smoker’s palate and smoker’s melanosis were recorded and analyzed using SPSS Statistical software Version 20. Smoker’s palate and smoker’s melanosis were prevalent in 50-59 years and predominant in males. In this present study, smoker’s palate (53.4%) was more prevalent followed by smoker’s melanosis (24%) and smoker’s palate and melanosis (22.6%). There was statistically insignificant association between the age and types of oral mucosal lesion (p>0.05). It can be concluded that smoker’s palate was more prevalent followed by smoker’s melanosis and both in which 50-59 years age and male group were more predominant.