RESUMO
The objective of the study was to observe and compare the changes in buccal exfoliated cells between smokers and Nonsmokers. Cross sectional comparative study. Study was carried out at Islamic International Dental College, Islamabad and Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore. The duration of study was six months i.e 1st September 2013-lst March 2014. Convinient, non-probability sampling technique was used. Quantitative data was obtained. The study groups consisted of 66 subjects divided into two equal groups of smokers S and non- smokers M, of ages between 15yrs-60yrs. Cellular diameter CD, nuclear diameter ND and nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio N/C ratio was assessed in buccal mucosal smears taken from clinically normal mucosa of smokers and normal subjects using exfoliative cytology. SPSS version 17.0 was used for data entry and statistical analysis. ANOVA and post-hoc tuckey were used for statistical analysis. The mean cellular diameter of smokers and non-smokers was 54.41 +/- 3.30pim and 43.81 +/- 2.01pim respectively. The mean nuclear diameter of smokers and non-smokers was 12.68 +/- 0.90