This study investigates inflammatory biomarkers in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from smokers and non-smokers with severe periodontitis, before and during non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). During periodontal disease development the periodontal pockets become deeper. In the inflamed periodontal tissue the interstitial fluid is filtered out into the periodontal pocket. The GCF reflects local inflammatory activity and contains cytokines/chemokines that may serve as biomarkers for disease severity and treatment response.
Investigators aim at collecting GCF from periodontal pockets from each patients before and during NSPT. Investigators compare non-smokers and smokers. The samples will be analysed for pro-inflammatory mediators and investigators aim at biomarkers that are at a high level in deep inflamed periodontal pockets. Investigators also want to observe if these biomarkers are altered in GCF after periodontal therapy. Finally investigators want to compare non-smokers and smokers with respect to treatment outcome and respons of chemokines/cytokines in GCF.