Cytogenetic analysis of gingival epithelial cells, as related to smoking habits and occurrence of periodontal disease

Periodontal disease, progressing from gingivitis to periodontitis, affects the majority of the world population. Its pathogenesis is related to a complex interaction between environmental, microbial, genetic and other host factors, tobacco smoking being the most important environmental risk factor. Conflicting results are reported in the literature regarding the effects of smoking habits on cytogenetic damage in exfoliated oral cells. We report herein the results of a study evaluating, for the first time, the frequency of micronucleated and binucleated cells in the gingival epithelium. There was no significant elevation of these cytogenetic end-points in 43 subjects as related to smoking habits (never-smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers) and periodontal disease (mild, moderate, or severe forms of gingivitis and periodontitis). Therefore, the overall data emerging from the present study do not support the evidence for an association between smoking habits, periodontal disease and genotoxic damage in gingival epithelial cells.