Buccal Mucosal Changes in Chronic Alcoholics

Introduction: The consumption of Alcohol has been increasing now-a-days and the same has been attributed to the development and progression of oral and Mucosal diseases. Meanwhile, the dangers of drinking alcohol to human body as well as the influence on oral mucosa remains unknown to the general public. Exfoliative Cytology is a rapid diagnostic method which depends on scrapings obtained from the mucosa. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the changes in the exfoliative cytology of the cells of the buccal mucosa in people who consume alcohol chronically. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out among 18 individuals, out of which 10 were known to chronically consume alcohol and the other 8 participants had no habits and were chosen as the control category. Once the consent was obtained, the scrapping was collected. The smears were then stained and observed under the microscope for cytological and cytomorphometric assessment. Results: On cytological analysis it was also observed that various slides showed the presence of micro nuclei which reveals that the cells have an increased replicative potential which in itself might be due to dysplasia. On cytomorphometricanalysis a change in the nuclear cytoplasmic ratio was also observed. Conclusion: There are buccal mucosal changes which are present in people who chronically consume alcohol and awareness about the same should be brought about to reduce the incidence of such diseases.