ABSTRACT
Context: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) has been consumed in India since times immemorial. It is the need of an hour to emphasise about awareness and harmful effects of SLT in relation to periodontium. Aim: The aim of the study was to access the prevalence of periodontitis and its association with SLT amongst the adult population of Greater Noida, India. Settings and Design: Hospital?based study and cross?sectional design. Methods and Material: This cross?sectional study included 512 SLT subjects between the ages of 18 and 79 years. The study was carried out from December 2019 to January 2022. A self?designed questionnaire was used for recording demographic details, forms of SLT, frequency, duration of use, and sites of retention of SLT products. The clinical periodontal parameters such as periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded in a given point of time. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi?square test and logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of periodontitis among SLT was 81.6% with the highest occurrence of Stage III Periodontitis (35.4%). The use of SLT for ?10 years [odds ratio (OR) = 3.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.86–6.27] showed threefold the risk for periodontitis compared to others who consumed SLT for 4–5 years. Gutkha consumers [OR = 2.56 (95% CI = 0.75–3.48)] were 2.56 times more prone to have periodontitis as compared to other forms of SLT. Conclusions: Periodontitis is positively associated with SLT use. Awareness, timely intervention, and periodic screening in the SLT users will help to prevent the progression of periodontitis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Various conceptual hypotheses have been put forth to link association of COVID?19 with various chronic diseases such as periodontitis. Empirical evidence is still lacking to correlate the severity of COVID?19 with periodontal diseases. Objectives: This study was undertaken with an objective to correlate COVID severity in systemically healthy patients suffering from periodontal diseases. Materials and Methods: 44 systemically healthy patients of both genders with minimum of 20 teeth in their oral cavity in age range of 20 to 50 years suffering from periodontitis were recruited and categorised into four stages as per American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) 2017 classification for periodontitis. Serum C?reactive protein (CRP) levels and periodontal disease parameters of all the patients were measured. Because of COVID?19 and the nationwide lockdown, the dental practice was highly affected. With the help of self?designed online questionnaire information regarding COVID?19 infection and associated symptoms were recorded. Cases were categorized into five groups based on the World Health Organization clinical progression scale of COVID severity. Results: All the patients suffering from COVID disease in moderate and severe forms had increased probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and raised serum C?reactive protein levels as compared to patients who were uninfected or suffering from mild COVID disease and the results were statistically significant. Conclusion: Prioritisation and Implementation of periodontal treatment as a preventive measure for COVID?19 should be done. A positive correlation is observed between the severity of periodontitis and COVID?19.