ANALYSIS OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL PATHOLOGIES AMONG A SAMPLE OF THE ELDERLY PATIENTS FROM A SINGLE INSTITUTE IN TURKEY: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Introduction: The global elderly population is increasing and becoming more susceptible to oral and systemic diseases. Therefore, comprehensive clinical and histopathological examinations of the oral and maxillofacial area to assess the oral health of this population are crucial. This study aimed to increase the knowledge base regarding the prevalence of biopsied oral and maxillofacial lesions among a sample of the elderly Turkish population (≥ 65 years of age). Materials and Method: The clinical records of geriatric patients ≥ 65 years of age, who underwent biopsy for a pathological formation(s) in the oral region between January 2017 and January 2020 at Ege University School of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (İzmir, Türkiye), were reviewed. Clinical follow-up data including demographic information, anatomical localization of the pathological mass, preliminary diagnosis, and biopsy results were evaluated. In order to ascertain the relationship between lesion formation and the independent variables, univariate analysis was employed. Results: Data were collected from 353 of 400 patients over a threeyear period. There was a high prevalence of odontogenic lesions (42.5%), and pathological diagnosis revealed an increased number of cases (43.1%). Pathological lesions were reported mostly in the posterior mandible (33.4%), followed by the anterior maxilla (21%), anterior mandible (13.3%), and posterior maxilla (7.1%). Conclusion: These findings are in accordance with those of previous studies based on histopathological data, emphasizing their importance in guiding public health policies for this patient population. Keywords: Biopsy; Pathology, Oral; Epidemiology; Geriatrics.