# Assessment of Systemic Condition and Smoking Impact Over Incidence of Apical Periodontitis

## TL;DR

This study found that smoking and certain health conditions like cardiovascular disease are linked to higher rates of apical periodontitis in a Romanian population.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific systemic conditions and smoking as risk factors for apical periodontitis in a regional population.

## Key findings

- Smokers had two more teeth with periapical pathology compared to non-smokers.
- Cardiovascular disease was the most common systemic condition associated with apical periodontitis.
- No significant association was found between apical periodontitis and other systemic diseases.

## Abstract

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of apical periodontitis in a subset of the population of south-eastern Romania and to analyze the overall health status of the group of patients with apical periodontitis. The medical and dental history, including age, gender, background, presence of smoking, level of education, the total number of teeth present and with apical periodontitis, and the general health status were recorded from a total of 200 patients. The periapical status was analyzed using an orthopantomogram and periapical radiographs of teeth that were diagnosed with periapical lesions by the same dental professional. The periapical status was classified according to the periapical index (PAI), with apical periodontitis being present if the PAI score ≥3. The majority of patients were female (58.5%), with secondary or higher education from urban areas and the mean number of teeth with apical periodontitis was 2.29 ± 1.26, with a median of 2 teeth. A total of 17.1% of patients were smokers, these patients had two more teeth with periapical pathology, and 16% of all patients had general diseases, the most common of which was cardiovascular disease (8.2%). Compared with those without the disease, these patients had a higher number of teeth with apical periodontitis (median = 2.5, IQR = 2-4 vs. median = 2, IQR = 1-3). As a result, this scientific research suggests an association between smoking, cardiovascular disease, and gastritis with apical periodontitis, but no association could be demonstrated between apical periodontitis and other systemic diseases.