Babaloo 2018.

Study characteristics
Methods	Study design: RCT with 2‐arm parallel design Recruitment period: unclear Setting: University Dental Hospital, Iran Number of centres: 1 Funding source: none
Participants	Inclusion criteria: diagnosis: chronic periodontitis with ≥ 12 teeth Exclusion criteria: systemic disease or on antibiotics from 2 months before or during study Age: 25–70 years (mean: FMD: 43 (SD 12.47) years; control: 47.7 (SD 9.4))* Sex: 19 F (FMD: 11; control: 8) and 21 M (FMD: 9; control 12)* Smokers: unknown Number randomised: 40 (20 per group)* Number evaluated: 40 (20 per group)* (implied but not explicitly stated)
Interventions	Comparison: FMD vs control FMD group: US instrumentation in 2 sessions within 24 hours, subgingival: CHX 0.2%; tongue brushing: CHX 0.2%; rinse: CHX 0.2% Control group: (Q‐SRP) QRP 4 sessions – 2‐weekly intervals, type of instruments unknown OHI before study start: unknown Instruments used: US instruments, unknown if hand instruments were used Time per Q: unknown Maintenance: at week 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 after treatment (both groups), PI recorded, OHI given Retreatment: none Duration of study: 4 months
Outcomes	Primary outcome: unknown Secondary outcomes: PPD, CAL, BOP (4 sites per tooth), serum IL‐27 (see Shirmohammadi 2013 under Babaloo 2018; also serum IL‐17 And IL‐1β were evaluated) Teeth: whole‐mouth recordings with manual probe Pocket depth at baseline: data not split for pocket depth categories Outcome time reported: 4‐month data used. Baseline, 2 and 4 months reported Other outcomes: PI, MGI*
Notes	*additional information found in Shirmohammadi 2013 under Babaloo 2018.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Quote: "Patients were randomly assigned to two groups using toss of a coin".
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Insufficient information for judgement.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Quote: "All the measurements were performed by one calibrated periodontist who was blind to the treatment groups" (additional information from Shirmohammadi 2013 under Babaloo 2018).
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Insufficient information for judgement. It is implied that all participants completed the study but not explicitly stated.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	Data reported on secondary outcomes; primary outcome not defined.
Other bias	Unclear risk	Baseline balance good for pocket depth; however smoking unclear. No apparent other biases.