title: Cigarette smoking and radiographic alveolar bone height and density.
abstract: Smoking might produce an adverse effect on alveolar bone height and density, acting as a potential risk factor for alveolar bone loss. In the present study, smokers exhibited significantly lower bone density values than nonsmokers (p < or = 0.002). Bone measurements from the cemento-enamel-junction (CEJ) to the bone crest indicated a significantly greater distance from the CEJ to the alveolar bone crest among smokers (p < 0.0001). The distance from the CEJ to the alveolar bone crest positively correlated to the reported number of cigarettes smoked per day (p < 0.001) and the number of smoking years (p = 0.03). It is highly important to inform young smokers about the risk of this habit in relation to periodontal health. Furthermore, dental school curriculums should include tobacco use-related topics and nicotine-dependence treatment protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Graduate Dentistry, Rambam Health Care Center, Haifa, Israel. liranl@tx.technion.ac.il
authors.forename: Liran
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult