Evaluation of the effects of probiotic use as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy on clinical, microbiological, and biochemical parameters in patients with chronic periodontitis

Aim: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by bacteria that stimulate the destruction of the tissues that support the teeth. Probiotics are thought to inhibit the colonization of periodontopathogens and reduce inflammatory responses. This study evaluated the adjunctive effects of S. salivarius K12 probiotics with SRP on clinical, microbiological, and biochemical parameters in Stage 3 periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Thirty systemically healthy Stage 3 periodontitis patients from İnönü University Faculty of Dentistry, Periodontology Clinic were included in the study. Participants were divided into test (SRP+Probiotic) and control (SRP) groups. Clinical (PI, GI, PD, CAL, BOP), microbiological (A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, T. denticola, P. intermedia and F. nucleatum) and biochemical (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10) measurements were performed at baseline, 1st, and 3rd months. Microbiological samples and biochemical samples were analyzed at the Inonu University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology. Results: Clinical parameters significantly improved in both groups at 1 and 3 months post-treatment. At 3 months, P. gingivalis and T. denticola levels significantly decreased in the test group, while F. nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and P. intermedia levels remained unchanged in both groups. Total IL-6 and IL-8 levels significantly decreased in both groups; however, total IL-6 and IL-8 amounts at 1 and 3 months and IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations at 1 month were lower in the test group compared to controls. IL-10 total amounts (1st and 3rd months) and concentrations (1st month) significantly increased from baseline in both groups. Conclusion: Tablets containing S. salivarius K12 may serve as a beneficial adjunct to SRP by improving clinical and inflammatory outcomes in periodontitis and slowing the recolonization of pathogenic microorganisms. Keywords: Cytokines, Microbiology, Periodontitis, Probiotics