Clinical Investigation of Periodontal Health in Smoker and Nonsmoker Individuals

Abstract

Background: Vaping, argileh, and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) smoking are becoming popular among adolescents and conventional smokers. While the impact of conventional smoking on oral tissues is well-established, the impact of other types of smoking on oral health is still unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, especially interleukin (IL)-1β and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) between nonsmokers and different types of smokers. The plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing depth (PD) were also examined. Methods: Demographic data were collected from 112 participants attending the Jordan University Hospital using a questionnaire. The groups included were nonsmokers and smokers of either cigarettes, argileh, vaping, or a combination of different types. Besides the basic clinical examination, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were measured using ELISA. Results: The mean PI was significantly lower in nonsmokers compared to the combination smoking group and to all smoking groups combined (p < 0.05). BOP was significantly higher in argileh smokers compared to the vaping group. No statistically significant differences were observed in MMP-8 and IL-1β levels among the studied groups. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, smoking status was not associated with significant differences in GCF levels of IL-1β and MMP-8 among periodontally healthy and gingivitis participants. However, differences in BOP were observed between specific smoking groups, suggesting that smoking modality may influence clinical inflammatory presentation.