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Volume 23
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10.3390/ijerph23070860
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Smoking and Depth-Related Anaerobic Bacteria in Endodontic–Periodontal Lesions: A Pilot Study

by
Cássio Vicente Pereira
1,
Natália Galvão Garcia
1,
Douglas Campideli Fonseca
1,
Pedro Gustavo Machado
2,
Michele de Fátima Rezende
2,
Sarah Ferreira Mattos Alcântara
2,
Eric Francelino Andrade
2 and
Luciano José Pereira
1,*
1
School of Dentistry, Centro Universitário de Lavras (UNILAVRAS), Lavras 37203-593, Minas Gerais, Brazil
2
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences (FCS), Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras 37203-202, Minas Gerais, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(7), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070860
Submission received: 19 May 2026 / Revised: 25 June 2026 / Accepted: 27 June 2026 / Published: 30 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health Outcomes from Childhood to Adulthood)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Endodontic–periodontal lesions are complex conditions in which endodontic infection and periodontal breakdown coexist and may create anaerobic microbial niches along the root surface. Although smoking is a well-established modifier of periodontal disease progression and subgingival microbial ecology, its influence on the depth-related distribution of anaerobic periodontal bacteria in teeth affected by endodontic–periodontal lesions remains incompletely understood. This cross-sectional study investigated the distribution patterns and co-occurrence of selected anaerobic periodontal bacteria in smokers and non-smokers with endodontic–periodontal lesions, considering periodontal pocket depth and anatomical site. Subgingival samples were collected from periodontal pockets of different probing depths (3–4 mm, 5–6 mm, and ≥7 mm), as well as from healthy gingival sulci and oral mucosa, in 26 patients with endodontic–periodontal lesions. The presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella nigrescens, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was assessed. Detection was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Qualitative detection frequencies and microbial co-occurrence patterns were compared between smokers and non-smokers across sites and pocket depths. Non-smokers showed higher detection of Tannerella forsythia in pockets ≥7 mm (p<0,05). Overall microbial co-occurrence was lower in smokers in deeper periodontal pockets, whereas detection patterns in healthy gingival sulci and oral mucosa were broadly comparable between groups. Our findings suggest that smoking may be associated with an attenuated depth-related detection pattern and reduced co-occurrence of selected anaerobic periodontal bacteria in endodontic–periodontal lesions.
Keywords: endodontic–periodontal lesions; smoking; subgingival microbiota; anaerobic bacteria; periodontal pocket depth; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Tannerella forsythia endodontic–periodontal lesions; smoking; subgingival microbiota; anaerobic bacteria; periodontal pocket depth; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Tannerella forsythia

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MDPI and ACS Style

Pereira, C.V.; Garcia, N.G.; Fonseca, D.C.; Machado, P.G.; Rezende, M.d.F.; Alcântara, S.F.M.; Andrade, E.F.; Pereira, L.J. Smoking and Depth-Related Anaerobic Bacteria in Endodontic–Periodontal Lesions: A Pilot Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23, 860. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070860

AMA Style

Pereira CV, Garcia NG, Fonseca DC, Machado PG, Rezende MdF, Alcântara SFM, Andrade EF, Pereira LJ. Smoking and Depth-Related Anaerobic Bacteria in Endodontic–Periodontal Lesions: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2026; 23(7):860. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070860

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pereira, Cássio Vicente, Natália Galvão Garcia, Douglas Campideli Fonseca, Pedro Gustavo Machado, Michele de Fátima Rezende, Sarah Ferreira Mattos Alcântara, Eric Francelino Andrade, and Luciano José Pereira. 2026. "Smoking and Depth-Related Anaerobic Bacteria in Endodontic–Periodontal Lesions: A Pilot Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 23, no. 7: 860. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070860

APA Style

Pereira, C. V., Garcia, N. G., Fonseca, D. C., Machado, P. G., Rezende, M. d. F., Alcântara, S. F. M., Andrade, E. F., & Pereira, L. J. (2026). Smoking and Depth-Related Anaerobic Bacteria in Endodontic–Periodontal Lesions: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(7), 860. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23070860

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