This study comparatively evaluate the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in smoker vs non-smoker chronic periodontitis patients as well as periodontally healthy subjects. the hypothesis of this study was that smoking may interfere with periodontal disease by effecting MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions.

Smokers have greater risk for developing periodontal disease and smoking is highly correlated with greater marginal bone loss. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play a major role in periodontal tissue destruction. MMP-2 and MMP-9, called gelatinases, are one of the major MMPs that plays important roles in periodontitis. To date, several studies showed the increased levels of gelatinases in periodontal disease and only a limited number of study investigated the effect of smoking on gelatinases. However, no previous study has directly investigated the possible relationship between smoking and gingival tissue gelatinases expressions (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in chronic periodontitis (CP) patients relative to periodontally healthy subjects.

Therefore this study is conducted to comparatively evaluate the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in smoker vs non-smoker chronic periodontitis patients as well as periodontally healthy subjects. the of this study hypothesis was that smoking may interfere with periodontal disease by effecting MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• A total of 80 subjects (35 females, 45 males, with an age range of 16-62 years) were included in this study from those patients seeking dental treatment at the Baskent University School of Dentistry between February 2010 and December 2012.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with systemic disease;
• pregnant and/or lactating women;
• patients taking any medications that may influence the study.

A total of 80 subjects (35 females, 45 males, with an age range of 16-62 years) were included in this study from those patients seeking dental treatment at the Baskent University School of Dentistry