Effects of cigarette smoking on periodontal status

The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between cigarette smoking levels and periodontal status.

199 subjects, consisting of male 127 and female 72, classified by smoking levels and duration were selected:

Patients who had smoked for more than 20 cigarettes/day were considered heavy smokers, 10 to 19, moderate smokers ; 1- 9, light smokers; 0, non-smoker.

And smokers were divided into ones who had smoked for more than 20 years, 10-19 years, less than 10 years and non-smokers.

Heavy smokers and moderate smokers showed significantly greater pocket depths, less clinical attachment levels, more molar furcation involvements, greater alveolar bone loss and higher scores of plaque index than light smokers and non-smokers, (p < 0.05). When the duration of smoking was considered as a factor, scores of clinical parameters were worse and alveolar bone loss were significantly greater in long-term smokers, who had smoked for more than 20 years. In conclusion, cigarette smoking is associated with periodontal status.