Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Screening of Tobacco Genotypes for Phytophthora nicotianae Resistance
Published on: April 15, 2022
Influence of tobacco dependence on caries development in young male adults: A cross-sectional study
Shreya Sharma1, Shailendra Kumar Mishra2, Neelam Mittal1
1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background:
A definite cause and effect relationship between tobacco use and caries are lacking in literature.
Aim:
The aim of this study is to determine the influence of tobacco dependence on caries development in young male adults.
Materials And Methods:
Three hundred healthy adult males in the age group of 20-40 years were divided into three groups containing 100 participants each. Group A: participants using smokeless tobacco; Group B: participants who smoke tobacco; and Group C: participants who have never used tobacco. Their dependence on tobacco was assessed using the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence. Their dental caries status was assessed using decayed-missing-filled teeth/decayed-missing-filled surfaces (DMFT/DMFS) index adopted by the WHO (1987). Observations were statistically analyzed using Mann-Whitney test, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
Mean DMFT/DMFS was significantly higher for Groups A and B as compared to Group C. Within Group A, mean DMFT/DMFS increased significantly with increased dependence on smokeless tobacco. Within Group B, highest DMFT/DMFS was found in participants with low dependence on smoked tobacco while least mean DMFT/DMFS was found in participants with high dependence.
Conclusion:
Both forms of tobacco proved to be a significant risk factor for increased caries development. Thus, tobacco use should be an important factor in caries risk assessment of patients.
Related Concept Videos
Cross-Sectional Research
Finding Volume Using Cross-Sectional Area
Profile Leveling and Cross Sections
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
Crossing Over
The homologous pairs of sister chromosomes—one from the maternal and one from the paternal genome—then begin to align alongside each other lengthwise, matching corresponding DNA positions in a process...
Frequency-dependent Selection

