ASSOCIATION BETWEEN E-CIGARETTE USE AND PERIODONTAL INFLAMMATION AMONG YOUNG ADULT DENTAL PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Keywords:
Cross-Sectional Studies, Dental Plaque Index, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, Gingival Hemorrhage; , Periodontal Diseases, Periodontal Pocket, Young Adult.Abstract
Background: E-cigarettes are increasingly promoted as safer alternatives to traditional tobacco, particularly among young adults. However, emerging evidence indicates that their use may adversely affect periodontal health. Understanding this association is crucial to inform dental practice and public health interventions.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use among young adult dental patients and examine its association with bleeding on probing, pocket depth, and plaque index after adjusting for potential confounders.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over five months at a dental teaching hospital in Lahore. A total of 420 patients aged 18–35 years were recruited through systematic random sampling. Participants completed a structured questionnaire on demographic factors, oral hygiene practices, and e-cigarette use. Periodontal parameters, including bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and plaque index (PI), were assessed by calibrated examiners. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Chi-square tests and independent t-tests compared categorical and continuous variables, respectively, while multivariate linear regression models assessed associations after adjustment for age, gender, oral hygiene practices, and socioeconomic status.
Results: The prevalence of e-cigarette use was 27.6%. Current users had significantly higher mean BOP scores (34.2% ± 8.1), greater PPD (3.8 ± 0.9 mm), and higher PI (2.4 ± 0.6) compared with non-users (p < 0.001 for all). Multivariate analysis confirmed e-cigarette use as an independent predictor of worsened periodontal outcomes, with adjusted β-coefficients of 0.29 for BOP, 0.25 for PPD, and 0.31 for PI (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: E-cigarette use among young adults was significantly associated with increased periodontal inflammation. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating e-cigarette risk awareness into dental counseling and preventive strategies. Longitudinal studies are warranted to explore causality and long-term effects.
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