Pre-operatively
Participants were provided with information about the intervention and asked to sign an informed consent. Phase I periodontal therapy was conducted through supra- and subgingival debridement, followed by instructions on oral hygiene performance, using toothbrushes and a twice daily use of 0.12% chlorhexidine HCL mouthwash for two weeks (Hexitol, ADCO Pharma Co, Cairo, Egypt) [