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Article History

Received: 14 December 2020

Revised: 27 January 2021

Accepted: 8 February 2021

First Online: 26 February 2021

Compliance with ethical standards

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: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

: The ethics committee of School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, confirmed that all the procedures described in this study were carried out in accordance with the principles of the ethics regulation of the research committee regarding the prescribed standard practices for biological research using microorganisms.

: Before sampling, each patient was given a written form with details about the title, the aim of the study, the subjects’ selection criteria and participation conditions, detailed description of sampling and research methodology. They were assured that the confidentiality of their personal data would be respected. Furthermore, they became aware that there was a possibility for the results of the study to be published in a scientific journal of a relevant subject. If they would be interested in obtaining a copy of the future published results, they could contact the Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. After their detailed information of the above, in case of consent, both the patients (or the person who would receive the card on their behalf) and the researcher signed the form stating the specific date. Signing the consent form the patients declared that (a) they had read and understood the details of the study and they had the opportunity to make questions, (b) they had understood that their participation is voluntary and that they were free to leave at any time they would decide without having to explain the reasons and without their medical care and their legal rights being violated and c) they had understood that some parts of their medical history would be disclosed to certain responsible people and authorities where this would be necessary and gave these people permission to access their history.

: Authors make sure that all data and materials as well as software application support their published claims and comply with field standards.