Oral mucosal changes and associated factors among male industrial workers with or without access to subsidized dental care

Oral mucosal changes and associated factors were studied among male industrial workers in southern Finland. Two groups, with or without access to an employer-provided dental benefit scheme, were compared. A multiple-choice questionnaire followed by clinical examinations was completed by 325 (81%) subsidized workers and 174 (69%) controls. In both groups 52% of the subjects had some oral mucosal change, and there were no significant differences between the groups in the location distribution of the changes. Smoking was significantly associated with redness of the oral mucosa (p < 0.001), coating (p < 0.001), and leukoplakia (p < 0.01), whereas denture wearing was associated with ulcers (p < 0.05), hyperplasia (p < 0.001), and redness (p < 0.001). Among denture wearers non-acceptable dentures were significantly associated with hyperplasia (p < 0.001). The subsidized group had better dentures, although this did not significantly benefit their oral mucosal status.