Background & aim: Increasing mean age of the Iranians has caused the elderly to contribute to significant proportion of the population. In addition to increase in dental and periodontal problems, the occurrence of oral lesions among them may also increase. This study was done to evaluate prevalence of oral lesions among elderly in Yazd   Nursing Homes.

Methods: In this descriptive-analytic   cross sectional study, all the elderly aged over 65 years that inhabit in Yazd province Nursing Homes were evaluated. Their clinical data were collected from their medical files. Their oral and dental status were investigated and recorded through oral examination.  Data were analyzed by chi- square and fisher exact tests using SPSS-17 software.

Results: Of the 267 participants, 93 subjects had oral lesions. Of the 177 elderly females participating in the study, 56 and out of 90 elderly males, 37 had oral lesions. Among 267 participants, 7 subjects had natural teeth, 84 persons had dentures and 174 persons have no natural teeth or denture and the difference between groups was significant. 28 persons were smoker, and among these 11 individuals had oral lesions; but no significant correlation was observed.

Conclusion: Due to oral manifestation of some diseases and high incidence of malignant and premalignant oral lesions at old ages, periodic oral checkup in elderly people especially those living in nursing homes is necessary.