Periodontitis Associated with Tobacco Smoking among Rural Khon Kaen Thai Males: Analysis of Two Data Sets
Supaporn Chatrchaiwiwatana DDS, PhD*, Amornrat Ratanasiri PhD**
Affiliation : * Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : Periodontitis is a common disease-related reason for tooth extraction. Although several studies
have related tobacco smoking to periodontitis among other populations, not many investigations concerning
the relationship between tobacco smoking and periodontitis among rural northeastern Thai people have
been conducted although tobacco smoking is a common practice among these Thai people.
Objective : The present study used two existing data sets to evaluate the association between tobacco smoking
and periodontitis among rural Khon Kaen Thai males.
Study
Results : Cross-sectional analytic study.
Material and Method: The study populations for phase I and phase II comprised a total of 625 males, aged
30-89 years, residing in five districts of Khon Kaen province, Thailand during 1990-91 and 1,218 males, aged
33-86 years, residing in Chonnabot district, Khon Kaen province, Thailand during 1992-94, respectively. The
data were obtained through oral examination and interview. The analyses employed descriptive, bivariate,
and multivariable logistic regression.
Results : Findings from final multivariable logistic regression models identified tobacco smoking as a risk
indicator for periodontitis in the presence of several factors in the final models including age, gingival
bleeding, debris deposits, and missing teeth.
Conclusion : It is evident that tobacco smoking is a risk indicator for periodontitis and that tobacco smoking,
which is directly associated with periodontitis among these populations, could enhance the possibility of
increasing periodontitis and tooth extraction. Therefore, targeted interventions aimed at encouraging people
to quit smoking tobacco would help in maintain favorable oral health.
Keywords : Tobacco smoking, Periodontitis, Tooth extraction, Thailand
