The Impact of Smoking on Gingiva: a Histopathological Study

Background and Objective: Smoking can be associated with the decreasing gingival blood flow and epithelial changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological changes of gingival epithelium and connective tissue in smokers. Methods: The study was case-control. Sixty male patients (28 smokers and 32 nonsmokers) suffering chronic periodontitis were participated in the study. Periodontal parameters consisting the gingival (GI) and periodontal (PI) indexes were registered. Tissue samples were taken during flap surgery. The hemotoxylin and eosin stained slides were assessed for blood vessel density, inflammatory cells infiltration and epithelial changes. The histopathological findings were compared between smokers and nonsmokers. Data analyzed using t-test and chi-square tests. Results: Smokers had lower GI (1.35 ± 0.48) and higher PI (2.87±0.68) than nonsmokers (2.72 ±0.31 and 1.87±0.25, respectively). The mean count of blood vessels with ≤ 0.5µ diameter was 18.78±10.06 and 5.90±2.93 in smokers, nonsmokers, respectively. The mean inflammatory cells infiltration in smokers, and nonsmokers were 0.89±1.03 and 70±0.46 that showed significant difference between two groups (P = 0.001, SD=1.21). The difference of epithelial hyperkeratosis