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Cigarette Smoking and Periodontal Destruction in Young Adults
Author(s) -
Linden Gerard J.,
Mullally Brian H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1994.65.7.718
Subject(s) - medicine , periodontitis , odds ratio , cigarette smoking , clinical attachment loss , confidence interval , dentistry , young adult , risk factor , gingival and periodontal pocket
T he relationship between cigarette smoking and periodontal destruction was assessed in young adults. Eighty‐two regular dental attenders (21 current cigarette smokers, 61 non‐smokers) aged between 20 and 33 years were examined. The smokers consumed on average 15.4 (±7.3) cigarettes per day and had smoked for an average of 11.8 (±7) years. Cigarette smokers had almost the same levels of plaque as non‐smokers but had more proximal surfaces with subgingival calculus ( P <0.01) and which bled on probing ( P <0.05). Smokers had significantly more pockets ≥ 4 mm (14.6±19.9) than nonsmokers (5.8±7.9), P <0.01. Only 2 (10%) of the smokers and 1 (2%) of the nonsmokers had deep pocketing (≥ 6 mm). Smokers had significantly more sites (21.8±24.9) with periodontal attachment loss of ≥ 2 mm than non‐smokers (9.3±12.2), P <0.01. Severe loss of periodontal attachment (≥ 6 mm) was present in 4 (19%) of smokers compared with 2 (3%) of non smokers. In total 4 (19%) of the smokers had „established periodontitis” compared with 1 (2%) of the non‐smokers. The odds ratio for the presence of „established periodontitis” and smoking was 14.1 (confidence interval 1.5 to 132.9). It is concluded that cigarette smoking was a major environmental factor associated with accelerated periodontal destruction in this selected group of young adult regular dental attenders. J Periodontol 1994; 65:718–723 .