Table 10.
ST use and endpoints relevant to dental caries and tooth loss – evidence from the USA
| Study | Endpoint | Time of Exposurea | Statistic | Exposed | Unexposedb | Summary of statistical testsc |
| Robertson 1997 [38] | Teeth present | ST use | Mean | - | - | No significant difference |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Teeth present | CT current | Mean | 23.89 | 24.29 | No significant differenced |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Teeth present | Snuff current | Mean | 22.99 | 24.29 | p < 0.005d |
| Dietrich 2007 [25] | Tooth loss | CT ever | HR | - | - | HR 1.14 (1.04–1.24)e |
| Greer 1983 [27] | Dental caries | ST use | % | 0.0 | - | "No evidence of dietary-associated caries" |
| Poulson 1984 [28] | Dental caries | ST use | % | 0.0 | - | "Tobacco-associated dental caries ...was absent" |
| Ernster 1990 [34] | Dental caries | ST use | % | - | - | No significant difference |
| Sinusas 1992 [36] | Dental caries | ST use | % | 7.95 | 13.56 | OR 0.55 (0.19–1.51) |
| Offenbacher 1985 [29] | Decayed, missing and filled teeth | ST use | Mean | 4.05 | 3.32 | 0.05 < p < 0.1f |
| Robertson 1997 [38] | Decayed or filled teeth | ST use | Mean | - | - | Higher in users (significance unknown) |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed or filled teeth | CT current | Mean | 7.99 | 6.97 | p < 0.05d |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed or filled teeth | Snuff current | Mean | 6.11 | 6.97 | No significant differenced |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed or filled coronal surfaces | CT current | Mean | 19.68 | 17.43 | No significant differenced |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed or filled coronal surfaces | Snuff current | Mean | 15.58 | 17.43 | No significant differenced |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed or filled root surfaces | CT current | Mean | 3.84 | 1.05 | p < 0.005d |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed or filled root surfaces | Snuff current | Mean | 0.86 | 1.05 | No significant differenced |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed or filled root surfaces | CT current | % | - | - | OR 4.18 (1.96–8.92)g |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed or filled root surfaces | Snuff current | % | - | - | OR 0.67 (0.26–1.74)g |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed root surfaces | CT current | Mean | 3.24 | 0.88 | p < 0.005d |
| Tomar 1999 [40] | Decayed root surfaces | Snuff current | Mean | 0.81 | 0.88 | No significant difference |
a In all studies except two, exposure is ST use unspecified as to whether current or ever. In Tomar 1999 [40] exposure is either current CT and no other form of tobacco, or current snuff and no other form of tobacco, and in Dietrich 2007 [25] exposure ever CT
b In all studies except two, comparison is with ST non-use. In Tomar 1999 [40] it is with never tobacco and in Dietrich 2007 [25] it is with never CT
c All statistical tests are unadjusted for any potential confounding variable, unless otherwise indicated. Where necessary ORs and 95% CIs are calculated from the data provided in the source paper
d Adjusted for age, and race or ethnicity
e Hazard ratio (HR) adjusted for age, other tobacco use, race, BMI, physical activity, diabetes, profession, routine medical examination, alcohol, calorie intake, multivitamin use and Vitamin C supplement use
f Estimated from means and standard errors given separately for subjects with and without gingivitis, between which groups no significant differences were seen associated with ST use
g Adjusted for age, race or ethnicity, education and past-year dental visit