To determine the influence of smoking on blood and salivary superoxide dismutase enzyme levels among smokers, and to demonstrate the significant alterations in the levels of superoxide dismutase in association with patient age, periodontal disease status, smoking duration, and smoking frequency. This study also aimed to evaluate the use of saliva as a biological fluid for disease diagnosis.Ninety males aged 25–56 years were selected and included 30 smokers, 30 nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis, and 30 healthy controls. Clinical parameters such as the gingival index, pocket depth, and clinical attachment loss were recorded. Blood and saliva samples were collected and superoxide dismutase enzyme levels were analyzed using spectrophotometric assay.Superoxide dismutase enzyme levels in the blood and saliva were significantly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers and the controls (p < 0.05). A significant correlation existed between superoxide dismutase levels and clinical parameters. There was also a significant positive correlation between blood and salivary superoxide dismutase levels among the three groups.Systemic and local antioxidant status is affected by periodontal disease and by the impact of smoking. The increased blood and salivary superoxide dismutase enzyme levels in smokers may be an adaptive defense mechanism to counteract the increased reactive oxygen species production induced by smoking. This study emphasizes the importance of saliva as an easy noninvasive tool in diagnosing patients who are more prone to precancerous lesions and conditions, and its importance in patient education and motivation programs for smoking cessation.

Unconventional medicine (UM) has been known and practised since the recorded history of civilization. Some unconventional practices may be viewed as “the continuity of traditions, religious beliefs, and even quackery that non-specialists practice.” These practices have been associated with religious beliefs and the spiritual domain as well as with the physical domain. In ancient Old World civilizations, UM was performed by skilled experts or wise men; in today's Western civilization, practitioners may or may not be licensed, and some are charlatans. Dentistry, like medicine, is a traditional, science-based, highly regulated healthcare profession that serves increasingly sophisticated and demanding clients. Today, traditional dental practice is dealing with an array of challenges to the established professional system; these challenges are generally termed “alternative” (or complementary, unconventional, or integrative). Genuine alternatives are comparable methods of equal value that have met scientific and regulatory criteria for safety and effectiveness. Because “alternative care” has become politicized and is often a misnomer – referring to practices that are not alternative to, complementary to, or integrating with conventional health care – the more accurate term “unconventional” is used.

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Introduction Tobacco in the form of Gutkha is commonly used in India. The present study was done to analyze the extent and pattern of alveolar bone loss (ABL) among gutkha chewers who were having chronic periodontitis. Materials and methods A total of 55 habitual gutkha chewers within the age range of 18 to 35 years with chronic periodontitis, who were otherwise healthy were recruited for the study. Fourteen full mouth intraoral periapical (IOPA) radiographs were taken for each individual (a total of 770 radiographs) with the help of radiovisiography. Kodak dental software was used to analyze and measure the alveolar bone loss at each proximal site and data were computed as percentage alveolar bone loss. Results Almost all the subjects had poor oral hygiene status. Clinical parameters of periodontal examination represented by clinical attachment level, probing depth, gingival bleeding index had positive correlation with frequency and duration of gutkha chewing. The study population had a mean alveolar bone loss of 17%. Mean bone loss was more severe in mandible 18.3% ± 2.6, when compared with maxillary arch 15.7% ± 3.7. Conclusion Maximum bone loss was observed with molars and incisors. Alveolar bone loss was more frequently found in mandibular arch as compared to maxillary arch. How to cite this article Warad S, Chaudhari HL, Ashok N, Kalburgi V, Kalburgi NB, Jenifer HD. Clinical Evaluation of Gutkha chewing and Pattern of Bone Loss in Periodontitis. World J Dent 2014;5(4):199-203.

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