Assessing the impact of khat chewing habit on the Periodontal tissue status among dental outpatient at Jimma university specialized hospital, dental clinic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: - Chat (Catha edulis) is a natural stimulant from the Catha edulis plant, found in the flowering evergreen tree or large shrub of Celastracea family, which grows mainly in Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and at high altitude areas in South Africa and Madagascar. The habitual use of chat renders a certain influence on mental health and physical status of human being. On the oral cavity it has got different effects such as TMJ problem and attrition due to continuous mastication for a long period of time. On the periodontal tissue it can cause gingival recession (GR) clinical attachment losses (CAL).Khat chewing has also related with oral cancers and may have allergic reaction to the gingiva or plasma cell gingivitis. OBJECTIVES: -to assess the impact of khat chewing on the periodontal tissue status among the dental outpatient at JUSH. METHODS:-cross sectional study was conducted by convenient sampling technique. A total of 92 subjects (73.91male and 26.09% female) were involved. Socio demographic data was collected using well designed questionnaire and clinical data on periodontal, oral hygiene, gingival bleeding, and burning sensation in the soft tissue; halitosis and ulceration in the oral cavity were collected to evaluate periodontal condition. Manual data analysis and Chi-square test were employed. RESULT:-The majority of khat chewers had poor oral hygiene in 48(52.17%). The percentage of gingival recession 57 (61.95%) were higher than others periodontal variable. About 70 (76.08%) of the subject complained gingival bleeding. Furthermore, 60 (65.21%) of chewers had halitosis and 48(52.17%) had burning sensation of soft tissue. Similarly, ulcers on oral mucosa were present in about 22 (23.91%) and xerostomia in about 25 (27.17%) of khat chewers. CONCLUSION:-There does appear to be relationship between effect of khat chewing on periodontal tissue and oral hygiene status