Oral mucosal lesions and developmental anomalies in dental patients of a teaching hospital in Northern Taiwan

Background/purposeOral mucosal lesions and developmental anomalies are frequently observed in dental practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions and developmental anomalies in dental patients in a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan.Materials and methodsThe study group comprised 2050 consecutive dental patients. From January 2003 to December 2007, the patients received oral examination and treatment in the dental department of the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan).ResultsOnly 7.17% of dental patients had no oral mucosal lesions or developmental anomalies. Twenty-three different types of oral mucosal lesions or developmental anomalies were diagnosed. The most common lesion was Fordyce granules (82.8%), followed by buccal exostosis (34.1%), torus mandibularis (24.2%), torus palatinus (21.1%), lingual varices (16.2%), and recurrent aphthous ulcerations (4.3%). Fordyce granules, lingual varices, and buccal exostosis were the three most common oral developmental anomalies in elderly patients. Fordyce granules, buccal exostosis, torus mandibularis, lingual varices, and oral submucous fibrosis were more prevalent in men than in women. Fordyce granules occurred more commonly in adults than in children and were more commonly present in the labial and buccal mucosae than in any other oral mucosal sites. The anterior region of the jaws frequently contained buccal exostoses. Torus palatinus occurred more frequently in female patients than in male patients. Recurrent aphthous ulcerations were more common in patients under 18 years old.ConclusionThis study provides important data about the types and prevalence of oral mucosal lesions and developmental anomalies in dental patients in a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan.