Evaluation of effects of smoking on gingival thickness - A clinical study

Introduction: Smoking is a known risk factor of periodontitis. Cotinine, a metabolic by product of nicotine is involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Changes in gingival microvasculature, gingival epithelium take place which manifest clinically as decreased bleeding on probing and reduced inflammatory response, increased gingival thickness etc. Knowing the importance of gingival thickness in various root coverage procedures and restorative treatments in periodontics and the increased incidence and prevalence of smoking, assessing the relation between these two entities is becoming important. This clinical study is sought to compare the thickness of gingiva in systemically healthy smokers and non-smokers Materials and methods: 40 age matched smokers and non-smokers were considered for the present study. Gingival thickness was measured in the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth by transgingival probing using UNC-15 probe midbuccally in the attached gingiva and at the base of the interdental papilla. Plaque index and gingival bleeding index were recorded. Student's independent t-test was employed for comparing various periodontal parameters between smokers and non-smokers. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All P-values were two tailed. Results: Both groups had similar gingival bleeding index and plaque index. Smokers had a higher thickness of gingiva both mid bucally and interdentally as compared to non-smokers. Conclusion: Both midbuccal and interdental areas are thicker among smokers when compared to non-smokers at similar plaque and gingival bleeding levels.