Effect of smoking on the gingival capillary density: assessment of gingival capillary density with orthogonal polarization spectral imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Microvascular changes because of smoking are frequently presumed in models because of the negative effect of smoking portrayed on the microcirculation. We hypothesized that cigarette smoke might lead to a decrease in gingival capillary density.


METHODS
Capillary density was assessed with orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging, a technique using special optics by which a virtual light source is created at a depth of 1 mm within the mucosa. The light is absorbed by haemoglobin, resulting in an image of the capillaries in negative contrast. The gingival capillary density was measured in 20 healthy male dental students with a mean age of 25. Ten of the students were smokers and 10 were non-smokers. In each subject six images of the right maxillary pre-molar region were obtained, and the mean gingival capillary density was determined through the use of K&K software technology.


RESULTS
The mean capillary density in smokers was 69.3 +/- 8.9 capillaries per visual field compared with a mean capillary density in non-smokers of 60.6 +/- 5.4 (p=0.33).


CONCLUSIONS
No significant differences were found between the gingival capillary density of smokers and non-smokers.
Lindeboom
J A
JA
Department of Physiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mathura
K R
KR
Harkisoen
S
S
van den Akker
H P
HP
Ince
C
C
D000328:Adult; D005881:Gingiva / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared