Assessment of Oral Health Status & Association of Caries Experience, Oral Hygiene and Dental Plaque with Tobacco Habits: A Cross Sectional Analytical Study

Abstract

Background: Tobacco is known to have various deleterious health effects & oral effects. This study aimed to assess & compare the effect of tobacco consumption on the oral health status of tobacco consumers with that of a healthy individual.
Material & Method: 50 participants were divided into two groups –Tobacco consumers and Non-Tobacco consumers. Intra Oral clinical assessment was done and Dental indices –Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT), Decayed, Missing Filled Surface (DMFS), Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) index & Plaque Index (PI) was recorded. The data was statistically analysed using the Chi-Square test and Independent Sample T-test.
Results: The study showed that mean DMFT score was lower among Tobacco user
(8.48 ± 7.749) than non-Tobacco user (9.04 ± 3.691), mean DMFS Score was higher in Tobacco users (24.72±32.878) than Non-tobacco users (17.68 ± 15.858) and difference in both was statistically non-Significant. However Decayed Teeth (DT) and Decayed Surface (DS) scores were increased among Tobacco users and the difference was statistically significant. The mean OHI scores were higher among Tobacco users (3.725 ± 1.80) than Non-Tobacco users (2.47 ± 1.05) and the difference was statistically significant (p 0.004*).The plaque Index Scores were higher among Tobacco Users (1.25 ± 0.727) than Non Tobacco Users
(0.98 ± 0.48) however the difference was statistically non-significant.
Conclusion: This study showed increased lower caries experience in tobacco than non-Tobacco users which is contrary to many other studies. The plaque and debris scores were higher among tobacco users, thus reflecting poor oral hygiene among tobacco users. Thus dentist should take this opportunity to encourage the tobacco users to quit tobacco habit, because the benefits are much larger than just improvement in oral hygiene.