Sir, in reference to a recent letter published in the BDJ1 which attempted to provide certain clarifications on the serious issue of EVALI and e-cigarette/vaping-related oral health issues, I believe there needs to first be complete accuracy in the claims being made.
Secondly, there is evidence in literature to support a negative association between vaping and gingival/periodontal as well as peri-implant health.5,6,7 This claim was made in the referenced study from the original letter citing the references I have now provided.
Thirdly, the scientific way to deal with findings from the referenced research would be to take cognisance of what has been reported and bear in mind that such carious patterns may be observed in the cohorts mentioned in light of the limitations already discussed.8
This would keep dentists and the general public aware.
References
Holliday R, Weke A, McColl E. Misleading and worrying. Br Dent J 2023; 235: 231.
Evans R E, Herbert S, Owen W, Rao D. Case of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) in London, UK. BMJ Case Rep 2021; doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-240700.
Sund L J, Dargan P I, Archer J R H, Wood D M. E-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI): a review of international case reports from outside the United States of America. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2023; 61: 91-97.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. E-cigarette use or vaping: reporting suspected adverse reactions, including lung injury. 27 January 2020. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/e-cigarette-use-or-vaping-reporting-suspected-adverse-reactions-including-lung-injury (accessed August 2023).
Vora M V, Chaffee B W. Tobacco-use patterns and self-reported oral health outcomes. J Am Dent Assoc 2019; 150: 332-344.
Wadia R, Booth V, Yap H F, Moyes D L. A pilot study of the gingival response when smokers switch from smoking to vaping. Br Dent J 2016; 221: 722-726.
Al-Aali K A, Alrabian M, ArRejaie A S, Abdajabbar T, Vohra F, Akram Z. Peri-implant parameters, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1 beta levels in vaping individuals. Clin Implant Dent Relat Res 2018; 20: 410-415.
Sahni V. Vaping questions. Br Dent J 2023; 234: 713.
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Sahni, V. Vaping accuracy. Br Dent J 235, 361–362 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-6348-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-6348-x
