Smoking's impact on pocket closure after nonsurgical periodontal treatment in relation to bleeding on probing.

Abstract

Our aim was to investigate the impact of smoking on pocket closure at six months after treatment of severe periodontitis, in relation to residual clinical inflammation. The clinical records of deep pockets (probing depth≥6 mm, n&#61;984) in 46 individuals with periodontitis were analyzed. Following baseline clinical assessments (plaque index, probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding on probing), non-surgical periodontal treatment was performed. Clinical assessments were repeated at 2 and 24 weeks after periodontal therapy. A logistic regression model using generalised estimation equations (GEE) adapting the cluster robust standard errors was performed to investigate potential associations between bleeding on probing and pocket closure at post-treatment 24 weeks. Absence of bleeding at two weeks after non-surgical treatment related to pocket closure after six-months. Pockets that do not bleed neither at baseline nor two weeks (OR&#61;2.7; P <.005) and pockets of non-smokers (OR&#61;6.32; P <.001) and females (OR&#61;1.79; P &#61;.022) associated with pocket closure at six months. Pocket closure is associated with being a non-smoker and the absence of inflammation after non-surgical periodontal treatment, which indicates the importance of smoking cessation and inflammation control in achieving optimal clinical outcomes.