Periodontal health of smoking and non-smoking adolescents

Methods: In Kotka Health Center, South-Eastern Finland, 238 boys and 232 girls (15-16 year-old) were examined. Visible plaque index (VPI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and calculus index (RC) were recorded and pocket depth was measured according to WHO recommendations. Bite-wing x-rays were taken for assessment of bone loss. Health habits were recorded by structured questionnaire. Differences between smokers and non-smokers were analyzed statistically.

Results: 54 (23%) boys and 58 (25%) girls smoked daily. Smoking boys brushed their teeth once daily in 24.1%, less than once daily in 20.4% and twice a day in 9.3%, non-smoking boys once daily in 38.8% and twice daily in 21.9%. Smoking girls brushed teeth once daily in 20.7% and twice daily in 46.6%, non-smoking girls once daily in 24.7% and twice in 48.9%. Boys had higher VPI and BOP scores than girls. Mean values for VPI were 51.9 for boys and 43.1 for girls. Mean BOP for boys was 52.9 and 47.9 for girls. No gender difference was observed in RC scores (mean values for boys were 12.7 and for girls 12.4) Smoking did not affect BOP but smokers had higher RC scores than non-smokers (p<0.001). Mean values of BOP in smokers were 53.2 and in non-smokers 49.4, mean values for RC were 19.5 in smokers and 10.9 in non-smokers. Smokers also presented more often 4-5 mm deep periodontal pockets than non-smokers; 5.79 vs. 2.61 per site, respectively (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The results showed poorer periodontal health parameters in smoking than non-smoking adolescents. Consequently, special protocols for smoking prevention should be targeted to this age group in order to prevent future morbidity.