Impact of waterpipe smoking on oral health of users: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim of the study. The world sees a rising consumption of waterpipe. The present systematic review aims to assess clinical and radiographic manifestations of oral illnesses, dental, periodontal, or soft tissue disorders related to waterpipe use. Methods. The authors searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and LILACS for oral health manifestations due to waterpipe consumption. PRISMA guidelines were adopted for the current systematic review. Meta-analysis performed with Review Manager 5.4 assessing risk of bias across included studies. Results. Nine studies assessing oral impact of waterpipe were included. Majority of articles are from a Middle Eastern population where the wa-terpipe use is more common than other parts of the world. Studies have assessed some oral health issues such as gingival inflammation, bleeding on probing, clinical attachment, probing pocket depth, bone height and tooth mobility. Conclusion. Contrary to popular belief, waterpipe use is not safer than cigarette smoking. Both are detrimental to dental and periodontal health.