The effects of cigarette smoking on the periodontal condition of young Jordanian adults.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have reported an association between smoking and periodontal destruction in young adults.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of cigarette smoking on the periodontal condition of young Jordanian adults.


METHODS
A case-control study of young adults between the ages of 20 and 35 years who were attending a dental hospital in Jordan for routine dental treatment. A group of 100 subjects who had smoked for at least 2 years were compared with 100 age- and sex-matched never smokers. Clinical measurements of plaque, bleeding on probing and probing depth were recorded and interproximal bone levels related to molar teeth were assessed from bitewing radiographs.


RESULTS
The smokers had higher levels of plaque, more sites which bled in response to probing and a greater mean probing depth than never smokers. The unadjusted odds ratio for smoking to be associated with the presence of more than 10 pockets which were > or =4 mm was 3.08 (95% confidence interval 1.58-6.03). The proportion of measurable surfaces in smokers (22.7%) which had bone levels > or =3 mm below the cementoenamel junction was significantly higher (P<0.0001) than in never smokers (7.4%). Independent predictors of reduced bone levels in multivariate analysis were infrequent interdental cleaning (P=0.03), age of 30 or older (P=0.03) and smoking (P<0.0001). Within the multivariate analysis the adjusted odds ratio for smoking to be associated with reduced molar bone levels was 4.95 (confidence interval 2.48-9.88).


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that cigarette smoking was a major environmental factor associated with accelerated periodontal destruction in the young adult Jordanians investigated.
Al-Wahadni
Ahed
A
Allied Dental Sciences Department, Jordan University of Sciences and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Linden
Gerard J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000209:etiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*