Alcoholism; substance abuse; periodontology: The influence of gingival margin recession on loss of clinical attachment in alcohol-dependent patients without medical disorders

doi:doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4810662

British Dental Journal 195, 503 (2003)
Published online: 8 November 2003 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4810662

Alcoholism; substance abuse; periodontology:
The influence of gingival margin recession on loss of clinical attachment in alcohol-dependent patients without medical disorders

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Higher levels of alcohol abuse appeared to increase attachment loss in this study.

Khocht A, Janal Met al. J Periodontol2003; 74: 485–493

In this study, a group of 40 alcoholics, of whom 30 abused cocaine, was compared with a matched group of 25 non-alcoholics, of whom 14 abused cocaine. Groups were similar in mean age (40–42 yrs), gender, smoking and cocaine abuse. They differed in alcohol use (alcoholics about 4 times as much) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase blood levels (GGTP; alcoholics 3 times higher).

There was no difference between groups in probing depth, attachment level (AL), recession, gingival inflammation, plaque amounts and number of teeth. However, with further analysis the investigators considered they had identified an effect, primarily in alcoholic subjects, where higher GGTP levels (>51 iu/l) were associated with higher plaque levels. Subjects above this level of GGTP had a mean 4 mm AL, and those below, 3mm. No association was found between cocaine use and AL.