SMOKING AND ITS EFFECTS ON EARLY-ONSET PERIODONTITIS

The findings of a recent study show that Smoking was more prevalent in a group of patients with generalized early-onset periodontitis and adu lt periodontitis than in patients with localized juvenile peri:Odontit is or healthy periodontium. In patients with generalized early-onset p eriodontitis, smoking had a significant effect on periodontal attachme nt loss; these patients had significantly more teeth with affected sit es and a greater mean loss of attachment than patients who did not smo ke. Thus, the risk of smoking could greatly accelerate tooth loss in t his relatively young group of individuals who are already at high risk for progressive periodontal attachment loss.