A comparative study to evaluate the periodontal health status among smokers and smokeless tobacco users: a pilot study

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to assess the general periodontal health status of smokers as well as of smokeless tobacco users. Materials and Methods: The study population consists of patients aged between 22-50 years and are divided randomly into 4 groups i.e. Group-I consists of all current smokers as far CDC (Centre for disease control and Prevention Classification) , Group-II – includes use of smokeless tobacco in any forms more than 1 packet of any form of smokeless tobacco, Group III- consists of both smokers and smokeless tobacco users and Group-IV-includes use of different types of smokless tobacco products for brushing teeth . The periodontal status are evaluated for all of these groups by Oral hygiene index-Simplified( OHI-S ) using 23 explorer and Community Periodontal index criteria (CPI) using 621 WHO probe. Results: The results are statistically compiled and mean of oral hygiene index of Group I- is (4.1±1.28), Group- II-(4.3±1.23), Group-III-(4.8±1.02), Group- IV-(4.4±1.36) which is quite similar in all groups and statistically insignificant . The percentage of CPI codes are as follows for code -0, code-1, code-2,code-3 and code-4 are 24, 31.9, 34.4, 28.75, 8.125 percent respectively for all groups which shows that prevalence of code-2 is more common among this study population. Conclusion: It is found that the tobacco in any forms whether smoking or smokeless tobacco has detrimental effects on the health of periodontium. The deleterious influence of tobacco depends upon the type, frequency and duration of the tobacco use.