Abstract
The effect of a common habit among Yemeni population on the periodontal status was investigated. This cross-sectional study was done on 2500 Yemenis with mean age 27.01 years (1818 males and 682 females). Among these 1528 were qat chewers and 972 were non-chewers. Detailed questionnaire and pre-designed scoring system for the periodontal status were employed for each case. Study results indicated that out of 972 non-chewers 116(12%) had periodontal pocketing and 18 (1.9%) cases had gingival recession. On the other hand, out of 1528 chewers, 468 (31.8%) had periodontal pockets and 98 (6.4%) with gum bleeding, p<0.05. These effects were found to increase with increased frequency and duration of chewing. It was concluded that habit of qat can cause damage to the periodontal ligament as pocketing and gum recession.
Highlights
Qat is known as khat or Catha edulis Forsk
A clinical study reported that the proportion of the population with severe periodontal disease in Yemen is significantly lower than in countries with high level of dental care [16]
As individuals chew qat only at the posterior teeth (S1, S3, S4, and S6), the first and second molars only were examined while anterior sextants (S2 and S5) were excluded from the study
Summary
Qat is known as khat or Catha edulis Forsk. Qat leaves contain more than 40 alkaloids, glycosides, tannis, terpenoids and others. Cathine and cathinone are the most important alkaloid constituents of qat that have amphetamine like effect [1]. People chew qat to get psycho-stimulation effect in the form of euphoria and excitement due to its cathin and cathinone contents [2]. Millions of men and women practice this habit in Yemen society in addition to Ethiopia, Somalia and other countries of east Africa. Qat habit is known in the Arabic countries as takhzeen al-qat as it is more than chewing (chewing and storing qat in the vestibule for few hours) and known socially as qat sessions [3]
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