Microbiological Effect of Essential Oils in Combination with Subgingival Ultrasonic Instrumentation and Mouth Rinsing in Chronic Periodontitis Patients

Table 4

Comparison of subgingival bacterial counts in deep pockets (PPD ≥ 6 mm).

		Baseline	After 7 days	𝑃 value
Control group; 𝑛 = 22 sites	Total bacteria	5.8±1.0	6.1±1.0	0.0151^‡
	P. gingivalis	4.5±1.3	4.9±1.3	0.0104^‡
	P. intermedia	2.9±1.6	3.2±1.9	0.1843
	T. forsythia	4.2±1.2	4.5±1.4	0.1069
Saline group; 𝑛 = 18 sites	Total bacteria	5.9±0.9	5.8±0.9	0.5692
	P. gingivalis	4.1±1.4	3.5±1.6	0.0663
	P. intermedia	2.7±1.4	3.0±1.4	0.2550
	T. forsythia	4.1±0.9	3.8±1.0	0.2006
EO group; 𝑛 = 18 sites	Total bacteria	6.0±0.7	5.2±1.0	0.0165*
	P. gingivalis	4.6±1.5	3.8±2.0	0.0038^†
	P. intermedia	2.3±1.8	2.0±1.7	0.3063
	T. forsythia	4.8±0.9	3.8±1.5	0.0191*

Values are expressed as mean ± SD (log10/mL). EO: essential oil-containing antiseptic; P. gingivalis: Porphyromonas gingivalis; P. intermedia: Prevotella intermedia; T. forsythia: Tannerella forsythia. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for statistical analysis (P < 0.05, ∗P < 0.01, †decrease. P < 0.05, ‡increase).