Behavior of the recurrent aphthous stomatitis as a dental urgency at Vedado's University Polyclinic

AbstractAimTo evaluate the clinical behavior of reccurent aphtous stomatitis (RAS) in a Cuban population.MethodsIn the present study adult patients from the Vedado's University Polyclinic (Cuba) diagnosed with RAS, from September 2009 to May 2010, were examined. Clinical classification, site, associated predisposing factors and clinical evolution of aphthae were evaluated. All patients were reevaluated at 10 and 14 days after the diagnosis to analyze the healing process.ResultsMinor aphthae was the more frequent clinical variant of RAS (88.4%) followed by Major (8.4%) and Herpetiform (3.2%) aphthae. Females were more affected (67.4%) than males (22,6%). Major aphthae was more common in patients aged between 35 and 59 years old, however Minor and Herpetiform aphthae were more common in individuals aged between 19 and 34 years old. Stress was a possible predisposing factor for the development of RAS in all patients. The most frequent site affected was the lip (35.7%) and the least was the palate (7.8%). Aphthae healing period was 7–10 days in 90.5% of the studied population.ConclusionThe most common clinical variant of RAS in the population studied was the Minor form, affecting mainly the female gender and the younger age groups, with a healing period time between 7 and 10 days. The labial mucosa was the most common site