Diabetes effect on Poor Oral Health

Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of diabetes on periodontal health of a population with poor oral hygiene.

Methods: 88 individuals with diabetes and 80 non-diabetics were recruited from an underprivileged colony in Karachi, Pakistan. The diabetes group comprised 50 males and 38 females and the non-diabetics group 43 males and 37 females. All were examined clinically and radiographically

Results: The diabetics had an average number of 24 teeth as compared to 26 teeth of non- diabetics. The odds ratio was 2.3 times higher for the diabetics compared to the non- diabetics (CI1.32-4.14, p<0.000). Diabetics had more sites with plaque as compared to non- diabetics (odds ratio 1.96, CI 0.99-3.88, p<0.05). Diabetics had more bone loss compared to non- diabetics (3.8±1.3 vs. 3.5±1.3). Moderate to severe periodontitis was significantly more prevalent among diabetics, (p< 0.01).

The DMFT and DMFS scores were significantly higher for diabetics than non- diabetics (7.1±6.2 vs. 4.3±4.3) (p<0.001) and (24.2±24.4 vs. 12.8±15.8) (p<0.000).

Fewer patients then controls consumed sweets more than twice a day, 53% as compared to 70% for non-diabetics (p<0.02). Similarly for tea with sugar, 81 % of the non diabetics consumed tea with sugar once or a day or more as compared to 50% diabetics (p< 0.000).

Conclusion: In this disadvantage population with poor oral hygiene, diabetes had a strongly negative influence on oral health: the diabetics had fewer teeth and a higher prevalence of moderate to severe periodontal disease than the non-diabetics. The dental clinic could serve as a health care location for diabetes screening.

Source of funding: Swedish South Asian Studies Network (SASNET)