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Background:
Smoking is the major risk factor in the prevalence, extent and severity of periodontal diseases. Tobacco
smoking, mostly in the form of cigarette smoking, is recognized as the most important environmental
risk factor in periodontitis.
Aim and objectives:
The aims of the study were to evaluate the periodontal health status among cigarette smokers and non
cigarette smokers and to assess effect of smoking on periodontal health with the duration of smoking.
Materials and Methods:
The study included 300 subjects (101 cigarette smokers and 199 non smokers) aged 15-74 years. The
subjects were randomly selected. Community Periodontal Index (CPI) scores was recorded for each
patient. Chi Square test was applied for comparing the associations. A p value of less than 0.05 was
considered as significant.
Results:
Periodontal condition as assessed by CPI score showed that there was statistically significant
difference in the findings between cigarette smokers and non-smokers. The results also showed that
those who smoked for lesser duration of time had less periodontal destruction than the subjects who
smoked for longer duration
Conclusions:
The current study shows that smoking is one of the major environmental factors associated with
accelerated periodontal destruction. It was found that cigarette smoking was associated with lesser
gingival bleeding and deeper pockets as compared to non-smokers.

Community periodontal index, periodontal disease, smoking