Review Article
Smoking and Periodontal Treatment Outcome
Abstract
Smoking has harmful consequences for the general health and the oral cavity. The consequences of smoking on the general health have been sufficiently documented, though the list of diseases linked to smoking continues to become longer. The health consequences causally linked to smoking include cancers and chronic diseases. Periodontitis belongs to the diseases linked to smoking. For smokers, inhaling chemical compounds that originate from tobacco burning is a severe health hazard. Chronic nicotine consumption develops nicotine addiction. Moreover, secondhand and thirdhand smoking entails risks. The first aim of the present study was to review the diseases that are nowadays linked to smoking. The second aim of this study was to thoroughly review the literature related to the impact of smoking on the periodontal health, periodontal disease and periodontal treatment outcome. Smoking affects the inflammatory and immune response. Smoking is a risk factor for periodontitis. It negatively affects the presence and severity of periodontitis as well as the outcome of periodontal treatment. Smokers respond less favorably than non-smokers to non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatment. In terms of periodontal maintenance, disease recurrence and progression are common in smokers. The risk for progression of periodontitis is higher for smokers. It seems that smokers have reduced compliance with scheduled supportive periodontal treatment visits. The negative impact of smoking on the periodontium indicates that in terms of the periodontium smokers might benefit from smoking cessation.