Alteration in buccal mucosal cells due to the effect of tobacco and alcohol by assessing the silver-stained nucleolar organiser regions and micronuclei.

Background: Oral habits such as alcohol consumption and tobacco chewing are considered to be initiators of dysplastic changes in the oral mucosa.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the alteration in apparently normal buccal mucosal cells due to effect of alcohol and tobacco by assessing silver-stained nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) and micronuclei.

Materials And Methods: The study comprised a total of 100 subjects which were divided into four groups with 25 subjects having alcohol consuming habit, 25 subjects were tobacco consumer, 25 were both alcohol and tobacco consumer and 25 formed control group who neither consumed alcohol nor tobacco.