Cannabis smoking and periodontal disease among young adults

Abstract

Context-Tobacco smoking is a recognized behavioral risk factor for periodontal disease (through its systemic effects), and cannabis smoking may contribute in a similar way.Objective-To determine whether cannabis smoking is a risk factor for periodontal disease. Design andSetting-Prospective cohort study of the general population, with cannabis use determined at ages 18, 21, 26, and 32 years and dental examinations conducted at ages 26 and 32 years. The most recent data collection (at age 32 years) was completed in June 2005.Participants-A complete birth cohort born in 1972 and 1973 in Dunedin, New Zealand, and assessed periodically (with a 96% follow-up rate of the 1015 participants who survived to age 32 years). Complete data for this analysis were available from 903 participants (comprising 89.0% of the surviving birth cohort).

Cannabis use and destructive periodontal diseases among adolescents

“…Our findings do not corroborate the recent results presented by Thomson et al (2008), who, based on analyses of both prevalence and incidence data, suggested that cannabis use may be an independent risk factor for periodontitis. In the present study, only one statistically significant association was observed between the use of cannabis and the periodontal outcomes considered, and this association was not consistent with a deleterious effect of cannabis use.…”

“…In a prospective cohort study, Thomson et al (2008) recently reported that cannabis smoking may be a risk factor for periodontal disease that is independent of the use of tobacco. They attributed their findings to the exposure to deleterious constituents in cannabis similar to those of tobacco (Thomson et al 2008).…”

“…In a prospective cohort study, Thomson et al (2008) recently reported that cannabis smoking may be a risk factor for periodontal disease that is independent of the use of tobacco. They attributed their findings to the exposure to deleterious constituents in cannabis similar to those of tobacco (Thomson et al 2008). If this interpretation is correct, a growing body of evidence would suggest that these deleterious constituents are likely to be found in the combustion products resulting from the burning (smoking) of these substances, rather than in their main active constituents.…”

Inter-generational continuity in periodontal health: findings from the Dunedin Family History Study

“…In addition, individuals who had experienced one or more sites with 3+mm incident CAL between ages 26 and 32 were classified as incident cases (Thomson et al 2008). …”

Destructive Periodontal Disease and Tobacco and Cannabis Smoking

“…5 Impaired glucose metabolism has been associated with destructive periodontal disease in 12-to 18-year-olds. 6 The study by Thomson et al confirms that tobacco smoking is associated with onset of destructive periodontal disease before the age of 35 years 4,7 and moreover may be "the primary behavioral risk factor" 4 for destructive periodontal disease. 8 However, in the study by Thomson et al, dental plaque was-to paraphrase Sir Arthur Conan Doyle-the dog that did not bark, or at least not very loudly.…”