Prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis linking with Areca Nut usage among Indians.

The prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis amongst population of Southern Rajasthan is of interest to dentists. Hence, a cross sectional study had been conducted on 3548 patients from 18-60 years age group who visited the Department of the Oral Medicine and Radiology, Pacific Dental College and Research Centre, Bedla, Udaipur was completed. They were subjected to thorough case history related to quid habit in arecanut (Areca catechu L.) form and to diagnose OSMF clinically. 1645 processed form of arecanut users were identified. The prevalence of arecanut chewers in study population has been reported to be 46.36%. The prevalence of OSMF in study population has been reported to be 458 (12.9%). Exact component associated and the mechanism involved in the occurrence of OSMF is still not available in literature and research is going on regarding unveiling this mysterious lesion.