Year : 2024

Volume : Volume 16

Issue : Issue 1

Address for correspondence :
Vineet Nair
drvineet_nair@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Background: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) is a kind of tobacco product that’s not burned so it doesn’t produce smoke. Instead, it is chewed (gutka), sucked on (khaini), or even sniffed into the nose. Usage of these products is extremely harmful as they contain nearly 4000 chemicals most of which are mutagenic and carcinogenic adversely affecting the health status. Aim: Though there is sufficient evidence in the literature on the deleterious effects of tobacco on periodontal health, studies on the harmful effects of SLT in the population of Burdwan are scarce thus, inspiring us for this study. Materials and Methods: Of the total 300 subjects (males = 258, females = 42) chosen for this cross-sectional study, 100 were gutka users, 100 were khaini users, and the rest were non-users. The clinical parameters included were plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and gingival recession (GR). Results: PI, GI, CAL, and GR were significantly higher in khaini users than gutka users or in subjects with no habits, which were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean PPD was higher in gutka users than in khaini users, which was also found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Based on the observational facts, the authors draw the conclusion that PI, GI, CAL, and GR were higher in khaini users whereas PPD was higher in gutka users.