Relationship Between Probing Attachment Loss and Clinical Parameters During Periodontal Therapy in Smoking Patients

Abstract

The relationship between various clinical parameters and probing attachment loss during periodontal therapy was retrospectively evaluated in habitual smokers. Twelve habitual smokers (smoking group : 1 woman, 11 men; mean age 54.5 ± 12.4 years) and 12 non-smokers (non-smoking group : 3 women and 9 men; mean age, 54.4 ± 9.8 years) who had received active periodontal therapy and maintenance care for at least 2 years at the dental hospital of Ohu University were enrolled. All subjects were clinically examined at baseline for the number of missing teeth (MT), probing pocket depths (PPD), clinical attachment levels (CAL), bleeding on probing scores (BOP), and plaque scores (PCR). Following the examination, all the patients received oral hygiene instructions and cause-related periodontal therapy. After treatment, all the subjects were followed up at regular intervals of 1 to 3 months. A re-examination, including an assessment of the same parameters as those studied at baseline, was performed after 2 years. The clinical parameters during the treatment period were investigated for their association with the percentage of sites with a probing attachment loss ≥ 2 mm over the 2-year period for each group of patients. The data were evaluated using the Spearman rank correlation. In the smoking group, little or weak relationships were observed for all clinical parameters. On the other hand, the number of missing teeth at re-examination, the percentage of sites with a CAL ≥ 5mm at baseline and at re-examination and / or the percentage of sites with a PPD ≥ 6mm at re-examination were significantly correlated with probing attachment loss in the non-smoking group. Thus,smoking may make Prediction of prognosis of periodontal therapy more difficult, and strict periodontal evaluations are necessary for habitual smokers.
Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi (J Jpn Periodontol) 49 : 215-223, 2007.