The effect of non-surgical treatment on periodontal pockets in smokers and non-smokers.

Changes in probing pocket depth following non-surgical periodontal treatment were investigated in 75 patients, 40 of whom were heavy smokers. Pockets with an initial probing depth of 4-6 mm were studied. The treatment consisted of patient instruction and motivation and debridement of plaque and calculus by hand instrumentation. The treatment was completed within 5 months and probing depth was recorded prior to and 1 month following the completion of therapy. Plaque index was reduced to a minimum in both smokers (P1I = 0.2) and non-smokers (P1I = 0.1) following treatment. An average reduction in probing pocket depth of 1.1 mm in smokers and 1.2 mm in non-smokers was observed. The reduction attained was less in smokers than in non-smokers for all regions of the dentition investigated. The greatest difference between groups was observed for the maxillary anterior region.