MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE ORAL CAVITY DURING THE USE OF CHEWING TOBACCO

Abstract

The use of chewing tobacco has a long-term local irritant and toxic effect on the oral mucosa. The main morphological changes are hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, dystrophic changes in the epithelium, chronic inflammatory infiltration, vascular disorders and remodeling of connective tissue. With prolonged use, signs of epithelial atypia and dysplasia may form, which increases the importance of early detection and morphological control of pathological foci.