Methods: Smokers with destructive periodontal disease, who applied to the smoking cessation program offered by the University Hospital (São Paulo), were recruited for this prospective study. The subjects received intervention to stop smoking and nonsurgical periodontal treatment. Periodontal examination and microbiological tests were performed at baseline and 3 months after periodontal treatment. Microbiological samples were collected from 4 periodontal pockets from each subject. Identification and quantification of target bacteria was performed by real time PCR technique.
Results: Between August 2010 and March 2012, 47 smokers (30 women and 17 men) applied to the smoking cessation program. Three months after periodontal treatment, 30 completed the follow-up period. Among these 30 subjects, 08 (26.7%) quit smoking. There was no difference between continuing smokers and quitters regarding presence and levels of the four periodontal pathogens (p>0.05)
Conclusions: Periodontal treatment associated with smoking cessation did not result in an additional reduction of periodontal pathogens.