Statistical methods
CALs, tooth
PLAQUE
The effect of periodontal treatment was reflected by clinical periodontal measures (PPD, CAL, BOP, and PI) and 2 biochemical measures (MMP-3 and TIMP-1 concentrations in saliva). PPD, BOP, CAL, and PI were measured at 6 sites per tooth: mesiobuccal, buccal, distobuccal, distolingual, lingual, and mesiolingual. The clinical measurements of third molars were excluded from the study. Per-patient PPD and CAL of moderate pockets at baseline (and at 8 weeks) were obtained by averaging the PPDs and CALs in moderate sites for each patient at baseline (at 8 weeks). Similarly, per-patient PPD and CAL of deep pockets at baseline (and at 8 weeks) were obtained by averaging the PPDs and CALs in deep sites for each patient at baseline (and at 8 weeks). Per-patient PPD (and CAL) change from baseline in moderate (deep) pockets was obtained by averaging the PPD (and CAL) changes within each patient by baseline PPD (4–6 mm or ≥7 mm). Per-patient BOP (and per-patient PI) was obtained by calculating a percentage share of tooth sites with BOP (and plaque) for each patient and by classifying pockets by baseline PPD (4–6 mm or ≥7 mm).Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS 28 statistic software package (IBM Corp.). Shapiro–Wilk test was performed to assess whether clinical periodontal measures (per-patient PPD, CAL, BOP, and PI) and biochemical measures (MMP-3 and TIMP-1 concentrations in saliva) followed a normal distribution. Accordingly, if the data followed a normal distribution, a paired-samples Ethical approval was obtained from the Kaunas Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (No. BE-2-38). All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. All protocols were approved by the Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee.