MMP7 and periodontitis: Evaluation of the MMP7 protein expression, as assessed by scoring the epithelium and connective tissue of all gingival biopsies, showed a significantly (P < 0.01) higher expression of MMP7 in the connective tissue of the periodontitis group, with a mean value of 2.1, compared to that of the non-periodontitis group, with a mean value of 1.0.