University Publications

Background, Periodontitis are destructive forms of periodontal diseases that are characterized by inflammation of the periodontal tissue, leading to an apical migration of the epithelial attachment and loss of periodontal soft and hard tissues. Gingivitis is a non-destructive form of periodontal diseases. Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor of periodontal diseases. Methods, A Cross-sectional study of 350 students an age range of 17-29 years, were selected randomly from the medical campus (Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Science and Environmental Health Science) University of Khartoum. One hundred and fourteen smokers were using cigarette, argella and a combination (cigarette and argella). A matched control group of two hundred and thirty six non-smokers were also included. Self – reporting questionnaire and clinical examination using Plaque Index (PLI) according to Silness and Loe (1964) and Community Periodontal Index (CPI) to assess periodontal health indicators were used. Sextants were used according to Federation Dental International (WHO 1983). Result, Smokers had statistically insignificant higher levels of plaque compared to non-smokers (P=0.1). Cicigarette smokers (75.6%) showed higher levels of plaque than argella and combination users. Moreover smokers showed less gingival bleeding than non-smokers (22.4%) and it was more among cigarette smokers than the other two subgroups (25.2%). Smokers showed statistically significant higher pocket depth (P=0.00), and LA (P=0.00) compared to non-smokers. Argella users had greater LA and deeper periodontal Pockets than the cigarette and combination subgroups (59.5% and 13.3% respectively), while combination users were greater in shallow pockets than the other two subgroups (31.0%).The relative risk (odd ratio) was 2.85 for smokers. Conclusion, Smokers show more plaque accumulation, less gingival bleeding, more pocket depth and attachment loss than non-smokers. All types of tobacco consumption increase periodontal disease severity and argella smoking had a greater effect than cigarette smoking on disease severity.