How does smoking influence tooth color

Background and objective: Smoking cigarettes is a major risk factor for many general and oral diseases. As a result of tooth discoloration this bad habit at first influence mainly on dental esthetics. The aim of this study was to find how smoking affect tooth color characteristics value L* and chromaticity a* and b*). Material and method: The tooth color of 235 healthy patients was evaluated using intra-oral spectrophotometer Shade Pilot ТМ (Degu Dent, Germany). Measurements were taken from the middle third of the left or right central incisors, without caries, internal discoloration, filings or crowns. According the questionnaire two groups were formed, non-smokers 123(52,4%) and 112(47,6%) smokers. The collected data was statistically analyzed using ANOVA/MANOVA Factorial Anova (F). Results: There was statistically significant influence of smoking on tooth value L* (F=7,7 и p<0,01(p=0,006)). Smokers have lower level of tooth value L* and the Delta L between two groups was 0,66. There was no significant difference on chromaticity variables a* (F=0,84 p<0,05(p=0,36)) and b*( F=0,02 и p