The role of tobacco use in periodontal diseases: a literature review.

This article surveys early and current research on the relationship between smoking and various aspects of dental health. Results of early studies on the prevalence of periodontal diseases in smokers, which were often contradictory, are discussed briefly, and more recent research on the effects of tobacco on the periodontium is presented. This includes research examining the relationship--between smoking and the various indicators of periodontitis, such as bone and tooth loss. Studies examining the effect of smoking on the outcome of periodontal therapy, and ways in which tobacco may be harmful are also reviewed, as are the effects of smokeless tobacco on the periodontium. It is suggested that a separate category for smoking-associated periodontitis be created.