Leite F R M, López R, Pajaniaye J B, Nascimento G G. Effect of Smoking Exposure on Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy: 1-Year Follow-up. J Dent Res 2022; DOI: 10.1177/00220345221135100. Online ahead of print.

Smoking cessation should be a critical part of periodontal therapy.

This study investigated the influence of smoking on periodontal healing for 12 months after non-surgical periodontal therapy and supportive periodontal care every third month. Eighty smokers willing to quit smoking and with periodontitis were included. Participants were offered individualised smoking cessation. Data collection included questionnaires and periodontal examination. Three smoking patterns were identified: light smokers/quitters (n = 46), moderate smokers (n = 17), and heavy smokers (n = 17). Heavy smokers commenced with a higher average clinical attachment level of 1.1 mm and ten more sites with severe periodontitis than light smokers/quitters. While light smokers/quitters and moderate smokers obtained an average improvement of 0.6 mm periodontal pocket depths and 0.7 mm CAL, respectively, heavy smokers experienced 0.5 mm attachment loss. Heavy smokers had only a 50% reduction in the number of sites with moderate periodontitis when compared with light smokers/quitters and moderate smokers. While most benefited from non-surgical periodontal therapy with results affected in a dose-response manner, the therapy had no effect on severe periodontitis among heavy smokers.