Comparison Between the Conventional and Electronic Smoking Effects on Periodontal Health-A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: To compare the adverse effect of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarette smoking on periodontal health.

Materials and methods: Sixty participants were split into two groups of 30 each (Group A-traditional cigarettes and Group B-e-cigarette smokers). Socio-demographic data, smoking, and oral health status were gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. Gingival index (GI), Russell's periodontal index, and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded in patients of both the groups.

Results: The mean GI (1.79), periodontal index (5.92), and CAL (3.44) were higher in patients using traditional cigarettes than e-cigarettes. The questionnaire revealed that patients using traditional cigarettes had bleeding gums (32.22%), pus in the gums (39.22%), extracted teeth due to mobility (59.65%), discolored tooth (89.66%), and tongue (71.76%), which was more than e-cigarette smokers.

Conclusion: E-cigarette smokers have similar adverse effects on the periodontal tissues but are less as compared to normal cigarette smokers.