DNA Methylation of <i>COX‐2</i>, <i>IFN‐γ</i>, <i>TNF‐α</i>, and LINE‐1 in Clinically Stable Periodontal Tissues Following Periodontal Therapy

These findings suggest that LINE-1 methylation in clinically stable gingival tissues may reflect long-term epigenetic memory from previous chronic inflammation. Motif-level analysis highlighted potential regulatory input from NFKB1 at the three loci (PTGS2, IFNG, and TNF). Notably, no significant epigenetic differences were observed in the inflammation-related genes COX-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, suggesting that periodontal disease can be effectively treated and that certain inflammatory markers may return to levels comparable to those seen in individuals who have never had the disease. These results highlight the importance of examining DNA methylation dynamics not only during active disease but also during long-term remission.