Effect of smoking on response to moderate periodontitis therapy

Background and Objective: There are several factors such as cigarette smoking, which has a role in etiology of periodontitis. Smoking has an effect on initiation, duration and severity of this disease. Therefore, it can be effective on results of periodontal therapy. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the smoking on changes of periodontal indices before and after periodontal therapy. Methods: This semi-experimental study was done on 30 patients with moderate periodontitis who referred to periodontal department of Babol faculty of dentistry. The mean age of patients was 33 years. The patients had no systemic disease with ≥4mm, probing pocket depth. GI (Gingival index), PI (Plaque index), BI (Bleeding index) and PPD (Probing pocket depth) were measured two times, first time before treatment and second time 20 days after complete scaling and root planning. Findings: There is not significant difference between 2 groups in GI, BI, PI and PPD before treatment but after that is a greater reduction of PPD (2.5±0.1) in non-smokers (2.7±0.1) (P=0.039). Also, non-smokers showed lower GI, BI and PI level but this change is not significant in PI. Conclusion: Scaling and root planning were effective on reduction of periodontal indices (GI, PI, BI, PPD) but this reduction in smokers is slower than non-smokers