Cigarette smoking and periodontal disease among 32-year-olds: a prospective study of a representative birth cohort

J Clin Periodontol. 2007 Oct;34(10):828-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2007.01131.x.

Abstract

Background: Smoking is recognized as the primary behavioural risk factor for periodontal attachment loss (AL), but confirmatory data from prospective cohort studies are scarce.

Aim: To quantify the association between cigarette smoking patterns and AL by age 32.

Methods: Periodontal examinations were conducted at ages 26 and 32 in a longstanding prospective study of a birth cohort born in Dunedin (New Zealand) in 1972/1973. Longitudinal categorization of smoking exposure was undertaken using data collected at ages 15, 18, 21, 26 and 32.

Results: Complete data were available for 810 individuals of whom 48.9% had ever smoked (31.5% were current smokers). Compared with never-smokers, long-term smokers (and other age-32 smokers) had very high odds ratios (ORs of 7.1 and 5.7, respectively) for having 1 +sites with 5 +mm AL, and were more likely to be incident cases after age 26 (ORs of 5.2 and 3.2, respectively). Two-thirds of new cases after age 26 were attributable to smoking. There were no significant differences in periodontal health between never-smokers and those who had quit smoking after age 26.

Conclusions: Current and long-term smoking in young adults is detrimental to periodontal health, but smoking cessation may be associated with a relatively rapid improvement in the periodontium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Dental Health Surveys
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Periodontal Attachment Loss / epidemiology
  • Periodontal Attachment Loss / etiology*
  • Periodontal Diseases / epidemiology
  • Periodontal Diseases / etiology
  • Smoking / adverse effects*
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking Cessation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Time Factors