POSITION PAPER - TOBACCO USE AND THE PERIODONTAL PATIENT

THIS POSITION PAPER WAS PREPARED BY THE Research, Science and Therapy Committee of The American Academy of Periodontology and is intended fo r the information of the dental profession. The purpose of the paper i s to provide the reader with a general overview of the relationship of tobacco use and periodontal diseases. This paper will review the epid emiological and clinical findings that have led to our understanding o f the role of tobacco use in relation to periodontal diseases and thei r treatment. In addition, this paper will review the possible underlyi ng mechanisms for these effects from tobacco use. The practitioner can use this information in treatment decisions and in giving advice to t he patients who use tobacco products.