Effects of Smoking on Clinical and Microbiological Response in Individuals With Periodontitis

Effects of Smoking on Clinical and Microbiological Response Following Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment in Periodontitis Patients

This study aimed to compare the distribution of subgingival periodontal pathogens following non-surgical periodontal therapy in smoking and non-smoking people with periodontitis. The main question it aims to answer is:

- Does smoking affect the results of non-surgical periodontal treatment on subgingival flora in participants with periodontal disease?

Researchers performed non-surgical periodontal therapy on 48 participants with stage III/IV periodontitis and recorded clinical measurements. They obtained subgingival plaque samples from periodontal pockets at the onset and after four weeks of treatment, determining the level of periodontopathogens using a polymerase chain reaction-based method.

The present study aims to compare the changes in clinical parameters and subgingival periodontopathogen rates (P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, T. forsythia, F. nucleatum, P. intermedia, T. denticola, P. micra, C. rectus, E. nodatum, Capnocytophaga spp, and E. corrodens) following full-mouth scaling and root planing procedures in participants with and without smoking habits.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having 15 or more permanent teeth (except third molars and teeth with endodontic lesions),
• Having been diagnosed with generalized Stage III or IV periodontitis that progresses with periodontal support tissue loss in more than 30% of the teeth,
• Having at least five teeth with probing depth(PD) ≥6mm, clinical attachment level(CAL) ≥5mm, and radiographic bone loss that extends to at least the middle of the root,
• Having at least one tooth that meets the same PD and CAL criteria per quadrant.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy or lactation,
• Any systemic disease with a potential influence on the immune response (diabetes mellitus, bone metabolic diseases, immunosuppressive therapy, radiation etc.),
• Existence of decay, restoration, or prosthesis on the sampling site,
• Use of the anti-inflammatory drug and antibiotic within the last 3 months.