FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1997
CONTACT:
Chris Martin; [email protected]
Jann Ingmire; [email protected]
312/440/2806
Kicking the Habit Aids Periodontal Healing
CHICAGO - A study published in the May Journal of the American Dental
Association (JADA) shows that current smokers don't heal as well after
periodontal treatment as former smokers or nonsmokers. But these
effects are reversible if the smokers kick the habit before beginning
treatment.
Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of
Dentistry divided 143 patients into three categories: nonsmokers,
former smokers and current smokers. They wanted to determine if smoking
status had any effect on the clinical and microbiological response to
root planing and scaling along with oral hygiene instructions.
Three months after treatment, the patients were evaluated to determine the
levels of plaque accumulation, depth of periodontal pockets (pockets
occur when toxins from bacteria destroy gum tissues, causing the tissue
to separate from the tooth and form deepened spaces) and bone
detachment. The patients were also evaluated for the presence of B.
forsythus and P. gingivalis, two of the common forms of bacteria known
to cause gum disease.
The researchers concluded that current smokers showed less reduction in
pocket depth and less gain in clinical attachment level compared to
former smokers and nonsmokers after periodontal treatment.
"Based on the result of our study and the evidence supporting the toxic
effects of active smoking on would-be healing, we conclude that smokers
should be advised to stop smoking before and immediately after receiving
periodontal therapy," said Sara G. Grossi, D.D.S., M.S, assistant
professor in the department of oral biology, SUNY Buffalo School of
Dentistry.
Dr. Grossi and her team of researchers also noted that there was no
association between number of years since the patient had stopped
smoking and their ability to heal after treatment. In other words,
patients who quit smoking years ago healed equally as well as those who
stopped smoking more recently.
"This suggests that there is an early benefit of smoking cessation in
terms of periodontal treatment outcome," Dr. Rossi said.
###
RSS