highly significantp -value ≤ 0.001
Differences were found mainly between the control and periodontitis groups: highly significant differences in species load were detected in C. rectus, T. forsythia, and P. gingivalis ( p -value ≤ 0.001), followed by S. mutans and F. nucleatum ( p -value = 0.05–0.001), as well as T. denticola , P. intermedia , and oral Lactobacilli ( p -value = 0.01–0.05).