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The Influence of Gingival Margin Recession on Loss of Clinical Attachment in Alcohol‐Dependent Patients without Medical Disorders
Author(s) -
Khocht Ahmed,
Janal Malvin,
Schleifer Steven,
Keller Steven
Publication year - 2003
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.2003.74.4.485
Subject(s) - clinical attachment loss , medicine , aggressive periodontitis , alcohol , alcohol abuse , gingival margin , gingival recession , bleeding on probing , periodontitis , dentistry , gastroenterology , psychiatry , biochemistry , chemistry
Background: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of alcohol and cocaine misuse on periodontal status in a group of alcohol‐dependent patients. Methods: Forty verified alcoholics, either exclusively (n = 10) or with cocaine abuse (n = 30), and a matched comparison group of 25 non‐alcoholic subjects, 14 of whom abused cocaine, were entered in the study. All subjects were free from systemic illnesses. Blood levels of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), a liver enzyme indicator of alcohol drinking, were determined. A comprehensive periodontal examination was performed on 6 sites per tooth. The gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) were recorded. Attachment levels (AL) were computed as probing depth (PD) plus gingival margin level (GM). Results: No statistically significant differences were noted between the groups for average AL, PD, GM, GI, and PI. In alcoholics, Pearson correlation showed a positive association between GGTP levels and loss of periodontal attachment ( P <0.05). A series of regression analyses predicting AL from selected periodontal and demographic factors showed that alcoholics manifest AL by greater increases in GM than non‐alcoholics ( P <0.07). Severe alcohol use as measured by GGTP >51 iu/l worsens PI ( P <0.07), which adversely impacts GM, GI, PD, and ultimately AL. No significant associations were found between cocaine use and AL. Conclusions: The results suggest that persistent alcohol abuse increases periodontitis development by heightening the loss of attachment through recession of gingival margins. J Periodontol 2003;74:485‐493.