The effect of quitting smoking on chronic periodontitis

Preshaw PM, Heasman L, Stacey F, Steen N, McCracken GI, Heasman PA. The effectof quitting smoking on chronic periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol 2005; 32: 869–879.doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00779.x. r Blackwell Munksgaard 2005.AbstractObjectives: To evaluate longitudinally the effect of smoking cessation on clinical andradiographic outcomes following non-surgical treatment in smokers with chronicperiodontitis.Material and Methods: Forty-nine smokers with chronic periodontitis who wished toquit smoking were recruited. Full-mouth probing depths, bleeding and plaque datawere recorded at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Clinical attachment levels wererecorded at target sites and subtraction radiography was used to assess bone densitychanges. Patients received non-surgical periodontal therapy during the first 3 monthsand supportive periodontal care over the remainder of the study. Smoking cessationcounselling was provided according to individual need.Results: After 12 months, of patients with complete data, 10 had continuously quitsmoking (20% of the original population), 10 continued smoking and six wereoscillators (those patients who quit and then relapsed). There were no differencesbetween the groups following treatment with respect to mean clinical or radiographicparameters. Analysis of probing depth reductions between baseline and month 12,however, and comparing quitters with the other two groups combined, demonstrated asignificant difference in favour of quitters (po0.05). Furthermore, quitters weresignificantly more likely to demonstrate probing depth reductions X2 and X3mmthan non-quitters and oscillators (po0.05).Conclusion: Quitting smoking has an additional beneficial effect in reducing probingdepths following non-surgical treatment over a 12-month period.