Author/Authors :
CSK Chaitanya, Nallan Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre - Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India , Boringi, Mamata Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre - Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India , Madathanapalle, Ramakrishna Ministry of Health - Department of Dentistry, Saudi Arabia , Renee, Alekya Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre - Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India , Sree, Surabi V. Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre - Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India , Priyanka, Nancy Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre - Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India , Sownetha, Triken Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre - Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India , Marella, Kondaiah Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre - Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Abstract :
Introduction: To assess the prevalence of dental caries in smokers and smokeless tobacco (ST) users and compare it with that of nonusers.
Materials and Methods: A sample of 549 patients of both genders within 18–75 years, visiting the Department of Oral Medicine and
Radiology, were categorized as follows: Group A—199 patients who smoked tobacco, Group B—150 patients who use ST, and
Group C—200 patients with no habit of tobacco usage. A clinical examination of dental caries was conducted using Black’s criteria, and
habit duration, frequency, form, and the type of tobacco used were recorded. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by
Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance with post-hoc Conover test using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software.
Results: The study revealed a higher prevalence of dental caries in the control group (mean—2.78) followed by the group with ST
usage (mean—2.36) and then the group with smokers (mean—2.23), with the age range within 26–35 years having statistical significance of
P < 0.001. In all the three groups, the prevalence of dental caries was more among males rather than females. Conclusion: There was a high
prevalence of caries in control patients followed by ST users when compared to the group with smoking habit. The higher presence of caries
in the ST usage group might be due to the presence of sweeteners in tobacco-chewing agents. Caries prevalence was less among smokers
probably to thiocyanate (anticariogenic) activity in their saliva
