The evaluation of oral precancerous lesions in factory workers of Kerman city in 1998

  leukoplakia,erythroplakia and palatal changes due to reversed smoking(R.S) are considered as precancerous lesions .oral lichen planus has been considered as a precancerous condition.to evaluate  precancerous lesions in factory workers of Kerman city,a cross sectional study was designed in which 1167 workers(1070 men,97 women,mean age=31.8) were participated.dental mirrors,explorers and flashlight were used for oral examinations and all the workers were examined by one person.overall 115 persons 9.9% had red and white lesions and among them 43 cases (3.7%) of precancerous lesion and 6 cases (0.5%) of lichen planus were diagnosed.all biopsy speciemen showed nondysplastic leukoplakia.direct relationship was observed between cigarrette smoking habits and loukoplakia(p<0.001).there was also a reverse relationship between educational level and leukoplakia(p<0.001).loukoplakia and lichen planus were most prevalenced in the age group of 20-40 years(p<0.001). also most of the lesions were detected in buccal mucosa and vestibule.Erythroplakia and R.S were not observed at all.the study showed a high rate of precancerous lesions among the workers (3.7%).further epidemiological studies of oral precancerous lesions and the inclusion of intraoral examinations in health care programs are recommended.