The Detrimental Impact of Smoking on Periodontal Health: A Comparative Study

Objectives: To evaluate the detrimental impact of smoking on oral health.Methodology: A Cross sectional comparative study was carried out on 100 patients, 50 smokers and 50 non-smokers, visitingSharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore from June 2019 to July 2020. Intra-oral examination was done using the CommunityPeriodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Recorded data was coded, entered and analyzed using SPSS statistical Packageversion 23.ResultsThe periodontal health was significantly associated with status of smoking (p=0.001). The most prevalent periodontal problemsof smokers were periodontal pockets of 4 to 5 mm (19%) while the least (4%) had bleeding on probing. Majority of the nonsmokers(32%) had bleeding on probing. The number of cigarettes smoked in a day and periodontal health status weresignificantly associated (p=0.004). Light smokers (1 to 10 cigarettes/day) had periodontal pockets of 4 to 5mm as their biggestperiodontal problems (38%) while the least (8%) had bleeding on probing. The periodontal problem that intermittent smokers(11 to 15 cigarettes/day) predominantly had was periodontal pockets of 6 mm or more (8%) and same was the case with heavysmokers (2%).Conclusion: The main periodontal problem of smokers was periodontal pockets of 4 to 5 mm while the least was bleeding onprobing. Most of the non-smokers had bleeding on probing while none of the non-smokers had periodontal pockets. Lightsmokers (1 to 10 cigarettes/day) mainly had periodontal pockets of 4 to 5mm as their main concern. The periodontal problemthat intermittent and heavy smokers mainly had were periodontal pockets of 6 mm or more.