PREVALENCE STUDY OF ORAL SOFT TISSUE LESIONS OF PATIENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate qualiquantitative the most frequent oral lesions in special patients using two health centers. METHODS: Over a year, the records of 60 patients were assessed and data on age, gender, main complain, presence or absence of oral abnormalities, recorded were analyzed. Then an oral exam was performed to check possible pathologies in the oral mucosa of this population. RESULTS: The sample consisted of a greater number of males (53.3%) and those who declared themselves as black (35%). The most common lesion was inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (40%), followed by gingival hyperplasia (26.6%) and candidiasis (11.6%). 18.3% of subjects reported perception of xerostomia. Many of these patients and or caregivers complained of difficulty in accessing dental care. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is necessary a greater attention devoted to this population for dental care becomes more humanized.