Frequency of developmental anomalies and mucosal inflammations of the tongue in fourth-year dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo

Introduction: Developmental anomalies and inflammations are common occurrences and are often associated with certain systemic conditions, such as diabetes, allergies, and anemia, as well as with harmful habits. The use of tobacco products and alcohol is frequently linked to changes on the tongue. Objective: This study aims to present the frequency of developmental anomalies and tongue inflammations in the student population of the fourth year at the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 50 participants, fourth-year students at the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo. General anamnestic data were collected through a survey, including information on harmful habits such as cigarette smoking, hookah use, and alcohol consumption. A clinical examination of the oral cavity, focusing on the tongue, was performed for each participant, along with vitro-pression, vitro-adhesion tests, and native findings on Candida albicans. Results: The most common developmental anomaly was lingua plicata (4%). The most frequent tongue inflammation in our sample was lingua geographica (14%). Among the 6% of patients with developmental anomalies, 6% had a positive family history. Conclusion: A significant etiological factor is genetic predisposition. In our sample, among 6 participants with developmental anomalies, 6% had a positive family history. The most common etiological factors for the occurrence of developmental abnormalities and tongue inflammations were harmful habits such as cigarette smoking (20%) for over 5 years (14%) and hookah smoking (12%) for over 5 years.