A significant influence of the Herpes viruses family in the progression of periodontal disease has been suggested. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association of four Herpes viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV and EBV) with periodontal disease using a qualitative test for evaluating the presence or absence of viral DNA in crevicular fluid samples of both healthy periodontal patients and periodontal compromised patients.

Adult patients with healthy periodontium or periodontally compromised attending the Egas Moniz university dental clinic (Almada, Portugal) are eligible to participate The study involves a periodontal diagnosis and collection of unstimulated crevicular fluid from saliva samples.

There will be no direct benefits for patients, but indirect benefit of advancing science in the study of potential involvment of Herpes viruses in periodontitis. No risks of participating are antecipated as the study material and data will be anonymized.

The study runs from the the Cooperativa de Ensino Egas Moniz and is expected to run for 3 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients (> 18 years of age) with natural teeth attending clinical appointments at the Egas Moniz university dental clinic;
• Cases (periodontally compromised) included at the Department of Periodontology of the same clinic;
• Controls (periodontally healthy) included at the remaining departments of the same clinic.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Occurrence of a viral infection during the six months prior to the clinical study;
• Exposure to antiviral medication in the six months prior to the survey;
• Clinical history of immunosuppression, either exogenous or endogenous;
• Chemotherapy in the previous six months.

Patients (> 18 years of age) with natural teeth present attending clinical appointments at the Egas Moniz university dental clinic.

he datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon reasonable request.

8 years

Upon reasonable request