TITLE:
Prevalence of Oral Mucosal Lesions among Palestinian Geriatric Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
AUTHORS:
Fahed Samir Habash, Ra’ed Omar Abu Hantash, Mohammad Hasan Abu Younis, Rania Mahmoud Halase, Nicolas Ghazi Nour, Moanad Mamdouh Aker
KEYWORDS:
Cross-Sectional Study, Palestinian Geriatric Patients, Potentially Malignant Lesions, Smokers, Oral Mucosal Lesions
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Stomatology,
Vol.15 No.9,
September
19,
2025
ABSTRACT: Objectives: Oral health in older adults is a critical aspect of the general health and well-being. Data related to that concern is scarce in Palestine. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions among elderly patients in Palestine. Materials and Methods: 266 patients aged ≥ 60 years participated in the study; 57.1% were males, and 42.9% were females. Two trained examiners conducted the oral diagnosis for the patients under the supervision of a senior oral medicine consultant. Participants were asked to complete a valid and reliable questionnaire which assessed medical and dental history, smoking, dentures wearing, and oral hygiene habits. Results: Overall, 54.5% had at least one lesion, with pseudomembranous candidiasis and Fordyce’s granules most common, 3.5% of them were potentially malignant lesions. Males were more affected than females. Most of the lesions were found on the tongue (29.1% of the participants) and buccal mucosa (27% of the participants). Chi-square analysis showed significant associations with smoking and denture use (P Conclusions: Smoking is considered a risk factor for the development of potentially malignant lesions. Denture wearer’s patients should be aware of the development of denture related oral lesions. This study highlights the considerable burden of oral lesions among geriatric Palestinian dental patients and underlines the importance of early diagnosis and preventive care.