Smoking and periodontal disease severity, probing pocket depth and bleeding on probing

Background and Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether severity of disease process differed between smokers and nonsmokers and to study characteristic differences in pattern of periodontal disease in smokers in a group of known chronic periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 150 individuals in an age range of 35–60 years wherein periodontal evaluation including probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) was performed using Williams's periodontal probe. For both the parameters (PPD and BOP), mean scores were calculated from different quadrants of the oral cavity while the results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The mean percentage of sites that presented with BOP was higher for nonsmokers compared with smokers. Furthermore, smokers had more number of pockets and pockets with increased PPD. On analysis of buccal and lingual sides, also, it was observed that smokers had more number of sites with PPD of ≥5 mm than nonsmokers. Conclusion: From the results, it could be concluded that smoking is associated with more severe periodontal attachment and bone loss and deeper periodontal pockets.