Methods: 114 students from two tertiary institutions in Suva, Fiji were included in the study, 62 were current smokers and 52 non-smokers aged 18 to 25 years. Oral examination was carried out to establish the WHO Community Periodontal Index (CPI) for each tooth. Each individual tooth was probed at six sites and the highest score was used for each tooth present in the mouth.
Results: The participants consisted of 70 Indigenous Fijians (32 Male and 13 Female smokers, 16 Male and 9 Female non smokers) and 44 Indo-Fijians (14 Male and 3 Female smokers, 20 Male and 7 Female non-smokers). The mean age of the participants was 21years. The mean duration of smoking was 2 years (1–10 years). The mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was 3 (1 –20 cigarettes/day). Smokers had a higher mean plaque score (p= 0.008), teeth with calculus (p=0.008) and teeth with a pocket depth of 4-5mm (p=0.004), fewer healthy teeth (p= 0.046) and; bleeding on probing was less evident (p=0.023). This study did not find any association between the severity of the disease and the amount smoked or duration of smoking. Males expressed higher mean plaque scores, mean number of teeth with calculus and teeth with pockets >3mm compared with female smokers and non-smokers.
Conclusions: Cigarette smoking is strongly associated with periodontal disease, its effects are evident from an early age and soon after the habit is commenced. Young male smokers express the detrimental effects of smoking on the periodontal health more then female smokers.