Impact of Periodontal Treatment on NO2−Producing Bacteria and Periodontitis-Associated Microbiota

In a study involving 38 periodontitis patients, subgingival microbiota was analyzed before and after periodontal treatment at various intervals (1, 7, and 90 days). Significant increases in NO2−producing bacterial species were observed at all post-treatment timepoints compared to baseline (BL), with a notable increase in abundance over time (p < 0.001). Concurrently, periodontitis-associated bacteria decreased at all follow-up stages (all p < 0.02). A negative correlation was found between NO2-producing species and periodontitis-associated species, strongest 90 days post-treatment (ρ = −0.792, p < 0.001). The study suggests that periodontal treatment enhances the presence of beneficial NO2−-producing bacteria, which may aid in periodontal healing.