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Oraland Maxillofacial Lesions in an Elderly Population in Shiraz, Iran

Background: Aging causes many changes in human physiology, increasing the risk of pathologic conditions in elderly populations. Different studies have shown higher frequency of oral and maxillofacial lesions in older people. Knowing the prevalence and distribution of these lesions can help dentists in screening these patients. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and distribution of oral pathologic lesions among patients referred to Oral Pathology Department of Shiraz Dental School. Patients and Methods: By referring to archives of Oral Pathology Department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, the histopathological reports of all 231 patients aged 60 years or over were reviewed. The data were described and analyzed using SPSS software. Chi-square test was performed and a P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The most prevalent lesion was oral lichen planus (21.6%), followed by inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (15.8%) and squamous cell carcinoma (7.6%). There was a statistically significant difference between men and women in the occurrence of odontogenic cysts and dermatologic diseases. (P = 0.018 and 0.002, respectively;chi-square = 5.63 and 9.47, respectively). Moreover, non-neoplastic lesions were the most prevalent group of lesions in this study. Conclusions: High frequency of life-threatening oral conditions among elderly populations makes it essential for dentists to pay special attention to the most frequent lesions and help enhance the life quality of elderlies by early diagnosis and management of these diseases.