Correlations between supra- and subgingival clinical parameters in smokers and individuals who have never smoked

Correlações entre parâmetros clínicos supra e subgengivais em fumantes e em indivíduos que nunca fumaram

Introduction

Smoking is a risk factor for prevalence, severity and progression of periodontal disease and appears to suppress marginal periodontium inflammatory response.

Purpose

To correlate Visible Plaque Index (VPI) and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) in smokers and never-smokers, as well as GBI and bleeding on probing (BOP ) in these groups.

Material and method

We used baseline data of one quasi-experimental study in which 11 smokers and 14 subjects who never smoked were submitted to clinical periodontal examinations between September 2010 and October 2011.

Result

The correlation between VPI and GBI was positive for both groups, it was strong and statistically significant in subjects who had never smoked and moderate in smokers. Regarding GBI and BOP correlations were moderate for smokers and weaker for individuals who had never smoked.

Conclusion

Smokers have lower strength correlation between VPI and GBI compared to individuals who had never smoked resulting in a less pronounced marginal gingival bleeding.

Tobacco; periodontal index; inflammation; periodontitis; gingivitis