Effect of non-surgical treatment on gingival bleeding in smokers and non-smokers

According to previous findings, gingival bleeding seems to be reduced under the influence of cigarette smoking. The present study deals with the effect of non-surgical therapy on gingival bleeding in smokers and non-smokers. The underlying hypothesis was that the therapeutic effect in terms of reduction of gingival bleeding might differ in smokers and non-smokers. Twenty patients with moderate to severe periodontitis, 10 smokers and 10 non-smokers, took part in the study. Gingival bleeding was assessed by probing under a standardized pressure (60 g), and measurements were performed before and 1 month after the completion of active treatment. The active treatment included debridement of supra- and sub-gingival deposits by means of hand instrumentation. The treatment caused a reduction in plaque index and gingival bleeding both in smokers and in non-smokers. The plaque reduction was significantly greater in smokers. Nevertheless, the reduction in gingival bleeding was significantly less pronounced than that attained in non-smokers. The findings suggest that the gingival bleeding response to treatment is reduced in smokers. It would seem that in response to a given amount of plaque reduction the changes in gingival bleeding will be less apparent under the influence of smoking.