Noxious effect of cigarette smoking on periodontal health

Periodontal probing depth, furcation involvement and tooth mobility were compared in smokers and non‐smokers. The study covered 242 subjects aged 21–60 yr, 76 of whom were smokers. Oral hygiene status and dental care habits were above average and of similar standard in both groups (Pll = 0.9). Probing depth was measured at 6 sites around all teeth and sites with a depth of 4 mm or more were regarded as diseased. Both number and probing depth of pockets were significantly greater in smokers than in non‐smokers. On average, smokers exhibited 36.0 sites with a probing depth of 4 mm or more, in contrast to 21.8 sites in non‐smokers. Probing depth was 2.59 ± 0.06 (mean ± SEM) and 2.36 ± 0.03 in smokers and non‐smokers, respectively. The relatively greater occurrence of pockets in smokers remained even when allowance was made for age and oral hygiene. There were also significantly increased numbers of teeth with furcation involvement, pocket involvement and hypermobility in smokers. It is concluded that smoking is associated with a deterioration in periodontal health and that the influence of smoking may be independent of plaque exposure.