Impact of scaling and root planing with or without adjunctive antibiotic therapy on salivary osteopontin levels among smokers with periodontitis: A randomized controlled trial
Rukhsar, Afaf Zia, Afshan Bey, Neelofer, Kushtar Anwar Salman, Abdul AleemAbstract:
Background:
Smoking is a significant environmental risk factor for chronic periodontitis, with high-risk individuals potentially having poor mechanical therapy responses. Smokers experience deeper probing depths and more attachment loss, whereas high levels of osteopontin (OPN) indicate destructive periodontal disease with loss of alveolar bone. This study aimed to evaluate and compare salivary OPN levels and clinical parameters before and after scaling and root planing (SRP), with or without adjunctive antibiotic therapy, among smokers with periodontitis.
Materials and Methods:
Thirty-seven otherwise healthy people with untreated persistent periodontitis, aged 25–60 years, were studied and divided into three groups: group 1, nonsmokers receiving only SRP as treatment; group 2A, smokers receiving only SRP as treatment; group 2B, smokers receiving adjunctive antibiotics along with SRP as treatment. The biochemical assessment of OPN levels in saliva was carried out using a commercially available human OPN enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.
Results:
The outcomes revealed a higher mean OPN concentration at baseline in smokers than in nonsmokers. There was a statistically significant decrease in the mean salivary OPN levels in all the groups; these levels remained substantially higher even after treatment in smokers compared with nonsmokers.
Conclusions:
According to the findings, smokers show greater bone resorption before and after therapy than nonsmokers. The outcomes of SRP with or without adjuncts for the treatment of periodontitis can be compared in smokers. However, the significance of using an adjunct in this regard remains questionable.