Influence of tobacco smoking on periodontal bone height. Long-term observations and a hypothesis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the investigation was to estimate the magnitude of the long-term influence of chronic smoking on the periodontal bone height.


METHODS
The study population included 19 continuous smokers, 28 former smokers and 44 non-smokers in the age range 20-60 years at baseline. The participants were examined at two points in time with an interval of 10 years. The height of the periodontal bone was determined from bite-wing radiographs of the first and second premolars of the maxilla and the mandible and measured from the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) to the periodontal bone crest (PBC) mesially and distally to the preselected teeth.


RESULTS
The mean (SD) CEJ-PBC distance at baseline was 1.82 (1.01) mm for smokers, 1.65 (0.81) mm for former smokers, and 1.16 (0.59) mm for non-smokers (p=0.016). The mean (SD) 10-year bone height reduction was 0.74 (0.59) mm for smokers as against 0.26 (0.31) mm for former smokers and 0.27 (0.29) mm for non-smokers. Controlling for age and baseline bone height level, the magnitude of the reduction was significantly dependent of smoking (p=0.000). The widening gap between smokers and non-smokers over time suggested that the bone height reduction of smokers took place at an accelerated rate.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the observations it is hypothesized that smoking induces an acceleration of the periodontal bone height reduction rate and that smoking cessation results in a return towards non-smoker rate.
Bergström
Jan
J
Institute of Odontology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000145:classification