title: Periodontal findings in patients with oral submucous fibrosis and comet assay of affected gingival epithelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) involves large sections of population and is related to certain chewing practices that involve direct exposure of the gingiva to noxious chemicals and additives. The impact of such practices, although studied extensively in relation to the cheek mucosa, is not elucidated as far as gingival tissues are concerned. The possible DNA damage on affected gingiva is also one of the objectives of the present study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred cases of individuals with OSF and 89 without OSF were examined for periodontal parameters and compared. Biopsies of gingival tissue from both categories were examined with conventional hematoxylin and eosin staining for epithelial, connective tissue, and inflammatory changes. Comet assay of epithelial cells obtained from scraping the gingival surface of both patients with OSF and control individuals was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with OSF had poorer oral hygiene and greater loss of attachment, probing depth, and recession compared with controls. Significant histopathologic changes in the form of loss of rete ridges with gingival epithelium reduced to a flattened surface was observed. All the patients with OSF showed comet cells in larger numbers. The controls also showed comet cells but in fewer numbers, and the number of individuals showing comet cells was significantly less.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OSF showed significant changes in affected gingiva, and the presence of comet cells in all the patients with OSF is a significant indicator of possible pathognomonic developments.
authors.affiliation: Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dodani
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anumala
authors.forename: Haritha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Avula
authors.forename: Krishnajaneya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Sreedevi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varre
authors.forename: Butchi Babu
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Kalakonda
authors.forename: Nupur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Charu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suri
authors.forename: Jaya Kumar
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Avula
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000150:complications; D001114:Areca; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000150:complications; D020552:Comet Assay / Q000379:methods*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D004249:DNA Damage; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology*; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000150:complications; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000150:complications; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D055815:Young Adult