Influence of Diabetes Mellitus on the Severity of Periodontal Disease

Awareness of physicians and dentists in Serbia about the association between periodontitis and systemic diseases: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Strong evidence supports the association between periodontitis and certain systemic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge of a group of physicians and dentists in Serbia regarding this topic and assess their professional actions to prevent and control both periodontal and systemic diseases.

METHODS

An anonymous self-administered structured questionnaire was sent to the available e-mail addresses of randomly selected healthcare providers working in Serbia. According to the inclusion criteria, general practitioners, specialists, general dentists, and specialists working in government hospitals and private practices in various cities in Serbia were recruited in the study. The questionnaire consisted of 17 questions divided into three parts. The first part recorded the sociodemographic characteristics of participants, the second part included questions about the clinical manifestation and etiology of periodontitis, as well as knowledge of the association between periodontitis and systemic diseases, and the third part included questions about professional procedures for the prevention and control of periodontitis and systemic diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 1301 health participants, 739 (57.8%) physicians and 562 (43.2%) dentists, were included in this cross-sectional study. Most respondents (94.7%) were aware of the association between periodontitis and general health. The highest percentage of respondents associated diabetes mellitus and periodontitis. Factors significantly associated with higher knowledge were female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-2.52; p < 0.001) and dental profession (OR, 5.86; 95% CI], 4.03-8.53; p < 0.001). Participants who had higher knowledge score were more likely to ask their patients about gum/systematic health (p < 0.001) and refer them to dentists/physicians (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

It was concluded that compared to the group of dentists, the group of physicians had less knowledge of the relationship between periodontitis and systemic diseases. The female gender was significantly associated with better knowledge. A better understanding of this topic is associated with better clinical practice.

Periodontitis and implant complications in diabetes

Epidemiologic evidence indicates that periodontitis is more frequent in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus than in healthy controls, suggesting that it could be considered the "sixth complication" of diabetes. Actually, diabetes mellitus and periodontitis are two extraordinarily prevalent chronic diseases that share a number of comorbidities all converging toward an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Periodontal treatment has recently been shown to have the potential to improve the metabolic control of diabetes, although long-term studies are lacking. Uncontrolled diabetes also seems to affect the response to periodontal treatment, as well as the risk to develop peri-implant diseases. Mechanisms of associations between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease include the release of advanced glycation end products as a result of hyperglycemia and a range of shared predisposing factors of genetic, microbial, and lifestyle nature. This review discusses the evidence for the risk of periodontal and peri-implant disease in diabetic patients and the potential role of the dental professional in the diabetes-periodontal interface.

Periodontitis, age-related diseases and diabetes in an endocrinological outpatient setting (PARADIES): a cross-sectional analysis on predictive factors for periodontitis in a German outpatient facility

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for periodontitis. Data on risk-modifying factors for periodontitis in diabetes patients are limited.

AIMS

We tested whether sex, age, type of diabetes, metabolic state, comorbidities, complications, measures of well-being and quality of life are predicting periodontitis in a German diabetes outpatient cohort.

METHODS

In total, 1180 out of 1293 participating DM patients completed questionnaires on quality of life, dental hygiene and health. All patients also filled out a modified version of the periodontitis risk questionnaire by the American Association for Periodontology, from which the status of "assumed periodontitis" was deducted. In a subset of participants (n = 461), we measured or inquired the most recent Community Parodontal Index (CPI), providing an objective measure for clinically diagnosed periodontitis. For all subjects, DM history and phenotype, major metabolic parameters (HbA1c, BMI, LDL and total cholesterol levels), general health risk factors, comorbidities and medication were collected.

RESULTS

Clinically diagnosed (CPI > 2) and assumed periodontitis was detected in 60-67% of our patients. Male sex and oral health-related quality of life were associated with clinically diagnosed periodontitis. Male sex, age, smoking, dental hygiene, dental control and diabetes-related quality of life independently predicted assumed periodontitis.

CONCLUSION

In DM patients, quality of life and lifestyle factors which systemically alter microvascular and immunological functions seem to predict periodontitis. Further studies are needed for replication and for pathomechanistic clarification.

Diabetes and Oral Health: Summary of Current Scientific Evidence for Why Transdisciplinary Collaboration Is Needed

This Perspective provides a brief summary of the scientific evidence for the often two-way links between hyperglycemia, including manifest diabetes mellitus (DM), and oral health. It delivers in a nutshell examples of current scientific evidence for the following oral manifestations of hyperglycemia, along with any available evidence for effect in the opposite direction: periodontal diseases, caries/periapical periodontitis, tooth loss, peri-implantitis, dry mouth (xerostomia/hyposalivation), dysbiosis in the oral microbiome, candidiasis, taste disturbances, burning mouth syndrome, cancer, traumatic ulcers, infections of oral wounds, delayed wound healing, melanin pigmentation, fissured tongue, benign migratory glossitis (geographic tongue), temporomandibular disorders, and osteonecrosis of the jaw. Evidence for effects on quality of life will also be reported. This condensed overview delivers the rationale and sets the stage for the urgent need for delivery of oral and general health care in patient-centered transdisciplinary collaboration for early detection and management of both hyperglycemia and oral diseases to improve quality of life.

The Role of Porphyromonas gingivalis Outer Membrane Vesicles in Periodontal Disease and Related Systemic Diseases

Periodontal disease is a chronic infectious disease associated with a variety of bacteria, which can cause damage to the periodontal support structure and affect a variety of systemic system diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and Alzheimer's disease. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is the most important pathogenic bacteria for periodontal disease. It can produce outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and release them into the environment, playing an important role in its pathogenesis. This article focuses on P. gingivalis OMVs, reviews its production and regulation, virulence components, mode of action and related diseases, with a view to providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of diseases related to P. gingivalis infections.

Diabetic patients' knowledge of the bidirectional link: are dental health care professionals effectively conveying the message?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has emerged as a global public health concern with significant upshots due to its high prevalence, severity and associated complications. The present review aims to evaluate the literature that has investigated the awareness and attitude of diabetic patients about their oral/periodontal health to identify gaps in the dissemination of this critical information. Literature addressing diabetic patient's awareness/knowledge, response to their periodontal health needs, and the source of oral health education was investigated using a computer search of electronic databases. Twenty-six papers were included in the systematic review for analysis. The studies reported data from 13 different countries involving 10 550 participants, 9843 patients with DM and 974 healthy controls. The overall analysis of the studies showed that approximately 73% of the diabetic patients were unaware of the link between their systemic condition (DM) and periodontal health. The results of the study show that a large number of diabetic patients are unaware of the link between oral/periodontal health and DM. There is a strong need to implement the recent guidelines established by the IDF/EFP concerning mutual care of diabetic patients by the medical and dental health care professionals. This will result in improved general and oral health of our diabetic patients.

Periodontal Disease: A Risk Factor for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, initiated by the presence of a bacterial biofilm, called dental plaque, which affects both the periodontal ligaments and bone surrounding teeth. In the last decades, several lines of evidence have supported the existence of a relationship between periodontitis and systemic health. For instance, as periodontitis acts within the same chronic inflammatory model seen in cardiovascular disease (CVD), or other disorders, such as diabetes, several studies have suggested the existence of a bi-directional link between periodontal health and these pathologies. For instance, people with diabetes are more susceptible to infections and are more likely to suffer from periodontitis than people without this syndrome. Analogously, it is now evident that cardiac disorders are worsened by periodontitis, both experimentally and in humans. For all these reasons, it is very plausible that preventing periodontitis has an impact on the onset or progression of CVD and diabetes. On these grounds, in this review, we have provided an updated account on the current knowledge concerning periodontal disease and the adverse effects exerted on the cardiovascular system health and diabetes, informing readers on the most recent preclinical studies and epidemiological evidence.

Obesity, diabetes and periodontitis--a triangular relationship?

The global rise of obesity, both adult and childhood, has been paralleled by a rise in type 2 diabetes, a trend predicted to continue for at least the next two decades. The combined effect will create a burden of direct and co-morbidities that will strain the physical and financial resources of all countries. While it is accepted that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are major risk factors for the development and progression of periodontal disease, there is growing evidence that obesity is both an indirect risk factor because it affects glycaemic control and a direct risk factor because secretion of pro-inflammatory agents by adipose tissue modifies the periodontal reaction to the plaque biofilm. Recent research suggests that periodontitis may adversely affect glycaemic control, which can be improved by periodontal treatment with reduced risk of diabetic co-morbidity, thereby creating a two-way relationship. Furthermore it appears possible that periodontitis may stimulate inflammatory change in adipose tissue, creating a triangular self-generating cycle of morbidity linking obesity, diabetes and periodontal disease. Dentists should recognise these interlinked risk factors and consider including an assessment of glycaemic control and adiposity, possibly by waist-to-hip ratio, when periodontitis is diagnosed and in collaboration with medical practitioners provide treatment to help reduce the development of systemic disease.

Diabetes mellitus and periodontal diseases

A bidirectional relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontal diseases (PDs) has been established. It is estimated that patients with poorly controlled DM are 3 times more likely to develop chronic PD compared with normoglycemic individuals despite similar composition in subgingival biofilms. Furthermore, these patients present with increased severity and rapid progression of attachment loss around teeth resulting in edentulism. Treatment of PD results in a modest but significant improvement in glycemic control in patients with DM reflected by a 0.4 % reduction in HbA1c-glycated hemoglobin levels. Compelling evidence from in vitro and animal studies supports a plausible biological explanation for the relationship between the 2 conditions centered on systemic low-grade inflammation. However, the limited number of comparable large randomized clinical trials is reflected in the limited specific guidelines offered by the international organizations for DM and PD regarding the management of the 2 diseases in an individual.

The oral-systemic personalized medicine model at Marshfield Clinic

Periodontal disease and diabetes, two diseases that have achieved epidemic status, share a bidirectional relationship driven by micro-inflammatory processes. The present review frames the current understanding of the pathological processes that appear to link these diseases and advances the hypothesis that reversal of the epidemic is possible through application of interdisciplinary intervention and advancement of oral-systemic personalized medicine. An overview of how Marshfield Clinic's unique clinical, informatics and bio-repository resources and infrastructures are being aligned to advance oral-systemic personalized medicine is presented as an interventional model with the potential to reverse the epidemic trends seen for these two chronic diseases over the past several decades. The overall vision is to engineer a transformational shift in paradigm from 'personalized medicine' to 'personalized health'.

Diabetes mellitus and periodontitis: a tale of two common interrelated diseases

Diabetes mellitus (a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia) and periodontitis (a microbially induced inflammatory disorder that affects the supporting structures of teeth) are both common, chronic conditions. Multiple studies have demonstrated that diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2) is an established risk factor for periodontitis. Findings from mechanistic studies indicate that diabetes mellitus leads to a hyperinflammatory response to the periodontal microbiota and also impairs resolution of inflammation and repair, which leads to accelerated periodontal destruction. The cell surface receptor for advanced glycation end products and its ligands are expressed in the periodontium of individuals with diabetes mellitus and seem to mediate these processes. The association between the two diseases is bidirectional, as periodontitis has been reported to adversely affect glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus and to contribute to the development of diabetic complications. In addition, meta-analyses conclude that periodontal therapy in individuals with diabetes mellitus can result in a modest improvement of glycemic control. The effect of periodontal infections on diabetes mellitus is potentially explained by the resulting increase in levels of systemic proinflammatory mediators, which exacerbates insulin resistance. As our understanding of the relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontitis deepens, increased patient awareness of the link between diabetes mellitus and oral health and collaboration among medical and dental professionals for the management of affected individuals become increasingly important.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-8 and -9) in chronic periodontitis patients with and without diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in a number of physiological events, and they are the major players in collagen breakdown during periodontal tissue destruction. Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been associated with altered collagen metabolism and increases the response of the periodontal tissue to pathogenic microorganisms, thereby increasing the severity of periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of MMP-8 and -9 in gingival tissues of diabetic chronic periodontitis (CP), non-diabetic CP, and healthy patients.

METHODS

The plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed. The levels of MMP expression in gingival tissue extracts were measured by gelatin zymography and Western blotting. The structural changes in tissues were analyzed by histological examination and collagen estimation.

RESULTS

Higher levels of PI, GI, CAL, and deeper PD were observed in CP patients with DM than CP patients without DM. The average concentration of MMP-9 was increased three-fold, and the MMP-8 was increased two-fold in CP patients with DM compared to CP patients without DM. A high infiltration of inflammatory cells and less collagen were observed in the histologic analysis of gingival biopsies from diabetic patients.

CONCLUSIONS

An increased concentration of MMP-8 and -9 in the gingival tissue of diabetic CP patients suggests that the expression of these MMPs contributes to the failure of the healing process in the diabetic condition. Treatment strategies directed toward the inhibition of these MMPs could lead to an improved healing rate in CP patients.

A comprehensive and critical review of dental implant placement in diabetic animals and patients

OBJECTIVES

A thorough and exhaustive analysis of the available studies concerning placement of endosseous dental implants in diabetic subjects has not been previously published. The aim of the present study was to perform a comprehensive and critical review of experimental and clinical studies published in the international peer-reviewed literature in the English language regarding endosseous implant installation in diabetic subjects and to draw evidence-based conclusions on the effectiveness and predictability of dental implant therapy in diabetic patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Literature search for articles published up to and including March 2005 in the English language was performed with a personal computer (PC) using The National Library Of Medicine (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed) and Cochrane Oral Health Group databases. Search strategy included a specific series of terms and key words. The reference lists of identified publications, relevant texts and previous workshops were also scanned. Data sources also included several hand-searched journals and contact with experts, when it was considered appropriate. Search was conducted independently by the three reviewers (S. K., I. K. K., I. F.). At the first phase of selection the titles and abstracts and at the second phase full papers were screened independently by the three reviewers. Disagreement regarding inclusion of full papers was resolved by discussion among the reviewers.

RESULTS

The search provided 227 potentially relevant titles and abstracts. At the first phase of evaluation, 199 publications were rejected based on title and abstract. At the second phase, the full text of the remaining 28 publications was retrieved for more detailed evaluation. These publications included 11 experimental studies and 16 clinical studies (one clinical study corresponded to two publications). Finally, 11 experimental and eight clinical studies were accepted. Clinical studies included four prospective and four retrospective studies. Because of the limited number of available studies and their heterogeneity, focusing on a specific predefined question to be answered by a systematic review was not feasible and therefore no meta-analysis was planned.

CONCLUSION

Within the limits of the existing investigations, experimental studies seem to reveal an impaired bone healing response to implant placement in diabetic animals compared with non-diabetic controls, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The majority of clinical studies tend to indicate that diabetes is no contraindication for implant placement, on condition that it remains under metabolic control. However, definitive guidelines with objective criteria, such as type and duration of diabetes and glucosylated hemoglobin levels, need to be established in the future.

Clinical and metabolic changes after conventional treatment of type 2 diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the response to conventional periodontal treatment between patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus from a clinical and metabolic standpoint.

METHODS

A prospective, parallel, comparative longitudinal clinical study was performed between type 2 diabetics and non-diabetics with moderate generalized chronic periodontitis. The study period was 6 months. Conventional periodontal scaling and root planing were performed, and the response to this treatment was compared between the groups at 3 and 6 months, measuring the plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, level of clinical attachment, and gingival recession. In the diabetic patients, the clinical response was related to measurements of HbA1c and glucose in blood at 3 and 6 months.

RESULTS

An improvement in all clinical variables was observed, with no statistically significant differences between the groups, with the exception of probing depth (P <0.0207). The improvement observed in blood HbA1c levels confirmed a positive metabolic response to periodontal treatment, with a lower value for this variable at each measurement time.

CONCLUSIONS

Both groups of patients showed a clinical improvement after basic non-surgical periodontal treatment. The diabetic patients showed improved metabolic control (lower HbA1c) at 3 and 6 months after periodontal treatment.

Effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment with or without doxycycline on the periodontium of type 1 diabetic patients

AIM

The present investigation was performed to study how type 1 diabetics responded to non-surgical periodontal treatment with and without adjunctive doxycycline.

METHOD

Sixty diabetic type 1 patients (mean age 35.3+/-9 years) with moderate-to-severe periodontal disease were selected and divided into two groups of 30 patients each. Both groups were sex and age matched and had similar amounts of periodontal destruction. Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment levels (CAL) were recorded. Group 1 (30 patients) was treated with oral hygiene instruction, scaling and root planing, chlorhexidine rinses twice a day and doxycycline (100 mg/day for 15 days). Group 2 (30 patients) had the same treatment but without doxycycline. After 12 weeks their periodontal condition was reevaluated.

RESULTS

After treatment, both groups had a significant improvement in all periodontal parameters, since PI, BOP, probing pocket depth (PPD) and CAL were significantly reduced. However, the reduction in PD in pockets > or =6 mm and in BOP were more evident when doxycycline was used (group 1). Differences between groups for these parameters were statistically significant (p=0.03).

CONCLUSION

Although both periodontal treatment regimens are effective in type 1 diabetics, the use of doxycycline as an adjunct, provided more significant results when good plaque control was achieved.

Ultrastructural determination of gingival Langerhans cells in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The ultrastructure of Langerhans cells has not been fully investigated in diabetes-associated gingival tissues. The present study was carried out to investigate the ultrastructure of gingival Langerhans cells in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Gingival biopsies were obtained from 22 diabetic and 18 control rats. Langerhans cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the basal layers of healthy oral epithelium. On rare occasions, Langerhans cells were found in the suprabasal layers of the oral epithelium. Langerhans cells in the oral epithelium of diabetic rats were seen in the basal and suprabasal layers. Usually, Langerhans cells had clear cytoplasm and convoluted or indented nuclei and few or no specific granules. The clear cytoplasm contained mitochondria, lysosomes and a small number of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum regions, but it lacked tonofilament. Occasionally, centrioles were also observed in the cytoplasm. The membrane of Langerhans cells had no junctional complexes such as desmosomes. In diabetic rats, Langerhans cell precursors were developed into specific granule-bearing cells. Both Langerhans cells and their granules were more frequent in the gingiva of diabetic rats than in the control group. These data suggest that Langerhans cells play an important role in explaining the pathogenesis and development of diabetic gingivitis.

Oral infections and systemic diseases

An association between periodontal infection and CVD has been revealed in some epidemiologic studies, whereas other studies were unable to demonstrate such an association. A link between the two diseases may be explained by shared established or nonestablished risk factors. Future studies with extended control of confounding factors and intervention studies may add to the understanding of a possible relationship between the diseases. In some cases, IE is caused by dental plaque bacteria. Several studies are suggestive of oral bacteria causing respiratory infection. The pathogenesis and course of a number of other diseases including DM and rheumatoid arthritis have been associated wish periodontitis, but more research is necessary to elucidate possible pathogenic interactions.

The influence of smoking and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus on periodontal disease

The periodontal health of smokers and non-smokers with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and non-smokers with periodontitis who were not suffering from a systemic disease was assessed. The investigation was carried out on 60 adult subjects. Levels of blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and immunoglobulins G, A and M were determined, together with the plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depths and clinical attachment level. Periodontitis was more severe in smokers and non-smokers with NIDDM than non-smokers without NIDDM, and the periodontal condition (clinical attachment level, probing pocket depth and gingival bleeding) was better in non-smokers with NIDDM than smokers with NIDDM. The results suggest that diabetes and smoking are high-risk factors for periodontal disease.

Bidirectional interrelationships between diabetes and periodontal diseases: an epidemiologic perspective

This review evaluates evidence for a bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontal diseases. A comprehensive Medline search of the post-1960 English language literature was employed to identify primary research reports of relationships between diabetes and periodontal diseases. Reports included in the review on the adverse effects of diabetes on periodontal health (DM-->PD) were restricted to those comparing periodontal health in subjects with and without diabetes. Review of adverse affects of periodontal infection on glycemic control included reports of periodontal treatment studies and follow-up observational studies in which changes in glycemic control could be assessed. Observational studies reporting DM-->PD provided consistent evidence of greater prevalence, severity, extent, or progression of at least one manifestation of periodontal diseases in the large majority of reports (supportive evidence in 44/48 total reviewed; 37/41 cross-sectional and 7/7 cohort). Additionally, there were no studies reviewed with superior design features to refute this association. Treatment studies provided direct evidence to support periodontal infection having an adverse, yet modifiable, effect on glycemic control. However, not all investigations reported an improvement in glycemic control after periodontal treatment. Additional evidence to support the effect of severe periodontitis on increased risk for poorer glycemic control comes from 2 follow-up observational studies. The evidence reviewed supports viewing the relationship between diabetes and periodontal diseases as bidirectional. Further rigorous, systematic study is warranted to establish that treating periodontal infections can be influential in contributing to glycemic control management and possibly to the reduction of the burden of complications of diabetes mellitus.

Health behaviors and their relation to metabolic control and periodontal status in type 2 diabetic patients: a model tested using a linear structural relations program

BACKGROUND

Although it has been reported that diabetic control is beneficial in managing periodontal disease, there are few studies in the literature where the relationship between singular behavioral factors and periodontal status has been examined. The aim of this study was to examine the simultaneous interrelationships among selected medical/dental variables and 5 behavior components with general health behavior (GHB), perceived fatigue (PF), diet control (DC), regular diet (RD), and dental behavioral inventory (HU-DBI) scores, using data from a study of 102 type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODS

A hypothesized model was tested by a linear structural relations program (LISREL).

RESULTS

There was a significant correlation between oral health behavior and calculus accumulation (r = 0.399; P<0.001). Correlations were found between calculus and periodontal status measured by gingivitis index and probing depth (r = 0.232; P<0.05, r = 0.279; P<0.01, respectively). The final model was found to be consistent with the data (chi2 = 55.0, df = 47, P = 0.197; GFI = 0.922). Oral health behavior affected periodontal status through its effect on calculus but not plaque accumulation. General health behavior had significant effects on oral health behavior and diet behavior (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). Diet behavior affected both plaque accumulation and metabolic control (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). However, the result was the virtual absence of a significant pass coefficient between metabolic control and periodontal status.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of the 2 diseases seemed to be connected indirectly through health behaviors such as diet behavior and oral health behavior.

Influences of systemic diseases on periodontitis in children and adolescents

Systemic diseases affecting the host response as primary immunodeficiencies or secondary defects caused by lack of nutrients or changes in the local tissues are very often accompanied by early-onset prepubertal periodontitis. Local treatment in combination with systemic antibiotics may in milder forms improve the situation, but in many cases the success is questionable and premature loss of teeth occurs. Since the genetic basis of many of the diseases has been identified, future developments permit the correction of at least some of these defects by gene therapy.

Diabetes and periodontal diseases. Committee on Research, Science and Therapy. American Academy of Periodontology

This position paper on diabetes mellitus was prepared by the Research, Science and Therapy Committee of The American Academy of Periodontology. It is intended to: 1) update members of the dental profession on the diagnosis and medical management of patients with diabetes mellitus; 2) summarize current knowledge on the relation between diabetes mellitus and periodontal diseases; 3) provide an overview of factors in diabetic patients relevant to understanding the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases in these subjects; 4) outline special considerations associated with treatment of periodontal diseases in diabetic patients; and 5) discuss possible approaches to the management of diabetic emergencies in the dental office.

Diabetes and periodontal diseases

This position paper on diabetes mellitus was prepared by the Research, Science and Therapy Committee of The American Academy of Periodontology. It is intended to: 1) update members of the dental profession on the diagnosis and medical management of patients with diabetes mellitus; 2) summarize current knowledge on the relation between diabetes mellitus and periodontal diseases; 3) provide an overview of factors in diabetic patients relevant to understanding the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases in these subjects; 4) outline special considerations associated with treatment of periodontal diseases in diabetic patients; and 5) discuss possible approaches to the management of diabetic emergencies in the dental office.

Comparison of health behaviour and oral/medical conditions in non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetics and non-diabetics

One hundred and two dentate patients with type II diabetes mellitus and 98 non-diabetic subjects were examined for oral conditions and metabolic state. Self-reported health behaviour was analysed. From factor analysis four factors emerged: general health behaviour (GHB), perceived fatigue (PF), diet control (DC) and regular diet (RD). In diabetics PF, DC and RD were significantly higher than that in non-diabetics. Patients with diabetes were more likely to control their disease through a programme of decreased kilojoule intake leading to weight management. However, they tended to tire. The mean gingivitis index was significantly higher (p < 0.01) among diabetics (2.39) than among non-diabetics (1.99). The number of missing teeth was significantly higher (p < 0.01) for diabetics (6.7) when compared with non-diabetics (4.3). On the other hand, aetiological factors (plaque, calculus) and the level of dental health behaviour as expressed in the HU-DBI scores were similar. Probing pocket depth did not differ statistically between groups. The increasing number of missing teeth in diabetics may primarily result from severe periodontitis with tooth mobility or deep pockets. Findings in this study suggest that the difference in the severity of periodontitis between diabetics and non-diabetics was significant although aetiological factors and the level of dental health behaviour were similar.

Periodontal management of gingival overgrowth in the heart transplant patient: a case report

Heart transplant patients take several medications that could affect their periodontal health. Gingival overgrowth associated with cyclosporin (immunosuppressant agent) and nifedipine (calcium channel blocker) is well documented. Candidal infections often develop because of immune suppression. This report describes the clinical and histopathological changes in the gingival tissues of a heart transplant patient and their management. The gingival tissues exhibited pronounced enlargement. The gingivae were lobulated, and the surface of the lobulations was pebbly and granular. Biopsies showed lobules of fibrous connective tissue covered by stratified squamous epithelium. The outer surfaces were dotted with numerous smaller papillations. Candidal hyphae were present in the superficial layers of the epithelium. The extensive papillary lesions appear to be related to candidiasis and constitute a condition which is best designated as papillary stomatitis. Hyperplastic gingival tissues were excised, and the patient was placed on periodic maintenance. One-year postoperative follow-up showed minor gingival growth.

Manifestations of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the periodontium of young Brazilian patients. A 10-year follow-up study

Eight female and 3 male patients from a group of 30 patients studied 10 years earlier and who had received no periodontal treatment during this period, in order to evaluate the progression of untreated periodontal disease in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, were evaluated in terms of plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, probing depth, and alveolar bone loss. The total number of dental surfaces that presented clinically detectable plaque deposits increased significantly (29% to 43%; P < 0.01; chi 2 = 46.36). Site-specific comparisons for plaque index between studies showed a significant variation (P < 0.01) in the upper arch only for palatal surfaces and in the lower arch for the buccal and lingual surfaces. The total dental surfaces with inflamed surrounding gingiva increased from 11% to 33% in this study (P < 0.01; chi 2 = 175.78). Site-specific comparison for gingival index showed a significant variation for all upper surfaces, while such difference for the lower arch was significant only for the buccal and lingual surfaces. The arithmetic means for the probing depth for the upper buccal, upper palatal, lower buccal, and lower lingual surfaces increased significantly (P < 0.01). The arithmetic means of alveolar bone loss also increased significantly for the upper posterior and lower regions (P < 0.01) and for the upper anterior and lower anterior regions (P < 0.05). The correlation between age and probing depth was significant only for the upper palatal region (P < 0.01). The correlation between age and bone loss was significant only for the upper posterior region (P < 0.05). The results of this follow-up study suggest that despite little variation in plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, probing depth, and bone loss increased after a 10-year interval in patients who had received no periodontal treatment during this period.

Risk assessment for periodontal diseases

Assessment of risk for periodontitis is still in its infancy. Nevertheless, a sufficient amount of dependable information exists to begin using risk assessment in the day to day practice of dentistry. The purpose of this paper is to summarise existing information about risks for periodontitis in a manner that is useful to practitioners. Risks for moderate to severe periodontitis that have been identified include cigarette smoking, advancing age, diabetes mellitus and certain other systemic conditions. These include, osteoporosis and HIV infection and conditions such as irradiation and immunosuppressive drugs that interfere with normal host defences, specific pathogenic bacteria in the subgingival flora, microbial deposits and poor oral hygiene status, bleeding on probing, previous disease experience and severity, and inheritance. Some risks such as pathogenic bacteria in the subgingival flora are strongly linked to causation of the disease while others such as bleeding on probing may indicate enhanced risk for future disease but are not known to be involved in causation and still others such as advancing age may be background factors that enhance susceptibility. While some risks such as cigarette smoking can be modified to lower the level of risk, others such as ageing are immutable and cannot be modified but need to be considered in overall risk assessment. A goal of periodontal diagnosis, treatment planning and therapy is to lower risk for future periodontal deterioration to the maximal extent. One approach to achieving this goal is described.

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) induce oxidant stress in the gingiva: a potential mechanism underlying accelerated periodontal disease associated with diabetes

We hypothesized that one mechanism underlying advanced periodontal disease in diabetes may involve oxidant stress in the gingiva, induced by the effects of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs), the irreversible products of non-enzymatic glycation and oxidation of proteins and lipids which accumulate in diabetic plasma and tissue. Infusion of AGE albumin, a prototypic ligand, into mice resulted in increased generation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) compared with infusion of non-glycated albumin in the gingiva, as well as in the lung, kidney and brain. Pretreatment of the animals with the antioxidants probucol or N-acetylcysteine (NAC) prevented the generation of TBARS in the gingiva. Affinity-purified antibody to AGEs demonstrated increased immunoreactivity for AGEs in the vasculature and connective tissues of the gingiva in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice compared to non-diabetic controls. Increased immunoreactivity for AGEs was also demonstrated in the gingiva of diabetic humans compared with non-diabetic individuals via immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Consistent with these data, immunohistochemistry for heme oxygenase-1, a marker of enhanced oxidant stress, was increased in the gingival vasculature of diabetic mice and humans compared with non-diabetic controls. These data suggest that AGEs present in diabetic gingiva may be associated with a state of enhanced oxidant stress, a potential mechanism for accelerated tissue injury.

Quantitative analysis of periodontal defects in a skull model by subtraction radiography using a digital imaging device

This paper describes a quantitative study of periodontal defects produced in a skull model using subtraction images obtained with a digital imaging device, radiovisiography (RVG). Analysis using radiovisiography was compared to changes in weight and volume determined by physical measurements. Four types of periodontal defects were studied: 2-wall, 3-wall, crater, and furcation. All defects were fabricated on posterior teeth in alveolar bone and done with triplicate samples. Defects were made progressively larger in approximately 1 mm steps allowing examination of defects ranging from 1 mm to 5 mm. Radiographic images before and after each step were obtained with a radiovisiography system and subtracted. Changes in weight and defect volume were also recorded and compared to the results obtained after each step from the digital subtraction. For each defect type, a regression analysis was performed to compare changes in bone mass determined by weight with calculated bone loss determined by subtraction radiography or by volume measurements. When the calculated bone losses were compared to the true bone losses it was evident that the subtraction method frequently, but not always, underestimated the lesion sizes. For all lesions the average underestimation was 22%. The largest underestimation occurred with furcation lesions where the measured bone loss was underestimated on average by 67%. Two-walled lesions were underestimated by 30%, 3-wall lesions by 3%, and crater lesions were overestimated by 10%. Furthermore, the accuracy of each 1 mm step in bone loss varied considerably. At present, the imaging system is not sufficiently accurate to establish absolute determinations of the bone loss, but would be clinically useful in determining relative changes in bone loss or gain after treatment. In addition, caution must be taken in interpreting a given change in calculated bone loss, since considerable variation may result in either underestimation or overestimation of bone loss.

Medical status and complications in relation to periodontal disease experience in insulin-dependent diabetics

The aim of this study was to define a population of diabetics exhibiting an increased risk of developing severe periodontitis by comparing the medical status of 2 groups of diabetics, 1 with no/minor periodontal disease and 1 with severe periodontal disease. The case-control study consisted of 2 parts, a baseline study and a follow-up study. 39 case-control pairs were selected. They were adult, long-duration, insulin-dependent diabetics matched according to sex, age and diabetes duration. One individual in each pair (the CASE) exhibited severe periodontal disease while the other (the CONTROL) exhibited gingivitis or only minor alveolar bone loss. The median age of the cases was 58 years (range 36 to 70 years) and of the controls 59 years (range 37 to 69 years). The median disease duration in cases and controls was 24 years and 25 years, respectively. The median follow-up time was 6 years. The medical variables analysed were weight, insulin dose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, vibratory threshold, triglycerides, total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, creatinine, HbA1, proteinuria, ECG, retinopathy, stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIA), angina, myocardial infarct, heart failure, hypertension, intermittent claudication, foot ulcer, death, cause of death, and smoking habit. Biochemical analyses and clinical variables used as a routine in the monitoring of diabetics failed to differentiate between diabetics with severe and minor periodontal disease. In the follow-up study, significantly higher prevalences of proteinuria and cardiovascular complications such as stroke, TIA, angina, myocardial infarct and intermittent claudication were found in the case group. An association between renal disease, cardiovascular complications and severe periodontitis seems to exist. This indicates that a closer cooperation between the diabetologist and the dentist is necessary in monitoring the diabetic patient.

The effect of periodontal therapy in diabetics. Results after 5 years

The present investigation was performed to study the frequency of recurrence of periodontitis in diabetic subjects, who, prior to the initiation of a 5-year period of monitoring, were treated for moderate to advanced periodontal disease. 20 patients with diabetes, type 1 (IDDM) or type 2 (NIDDM) and 20, sex and age matched, controls with similar amounts of periodontal tissue destruction, were selected for the study. Following a screening examination, all patients were subjected to non-surgical periodontal therapy (oral hygiene instruction, supra- and subgingival scaling). 3 months later, the baseline examination for the study was performed. This included assessments of several parameters such as: number of teeth, plaque, gingivitis, probing pocket depth and probing attachment level. 6 months after the baseline examination, all 40 subjects were recalled for a 2nd examination. Sites which at this 6-month examination exhibited bleeding on probing, and had probing depth > 5 mm, were scheduled for additional surgical therapy (modified Widman flap). Following this selective additional therapy, the main period of monitoring was initiated. During this period, a plaque control program was repeated every 3 months. Re-examinations regarding plaque, gingivitis, probing depth and probing attachment level were performed 12, 24 and 60 months after the baseline examination. The findings from the examinations disclosed that diabetics and non-diabetics alike, treated for moderately to advanced forms of adult periodontitis, during a subsequent 5-year period, were able to maintain healthy periodontal conditions. Thus, the frequency of sites which exhibited signs of recurrent disease was similar in the 2 study groups.

Periodontal disease and type I diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents

This study compared the periodontal status of a juvenile diabetic study group with that of a non-diabetic control group similar in age and sex. The study group consisted of 26 type I diabetic patients with an average age of 13.42 years and 24 control subjects of similar age. The diabetic subjects were evaluated with glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) to obtain a measure of diabetic control. Clinical periodontal evaluations were performed for all teeth in each subject, and consisted of the plaque index, gingival fluid flow, gingival index, probing depths, clinical attachment levels, recession, and bleeding on probing. Analysis of the data demonstrated no statistically significant differences in the overall means for the 2 groups for average attachment loss, probing depths, recession, gingival index, plaque index, gingival fluid flow, or bleeding on probing. There was no significant association between the level of control of diabetes (GHb) and clinical variables. However, comparisons based on site-specific measurements showed the gingival index to be somewhat higher among the diabetics (p = 0.0002), and examination of interaction effect plots showed the diabetic group to have higher average gingival index for most teeth and higher or the same plaque index levels on all teeth relative to controls. Thus, a young study population with type I diabetes mellitus was found to have significantly increased severity of inflammatory gingival disease compared to controls of similar age.

Periodontal disease in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The effect of age and time since diagnosis

The association of periodontal disease with diabetes was studied in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. In a cross-sectional design, 100 patients (46 males and 54 females) were selected in 4 groups according to age and years since diagnosis of diabetes. The groups were: group 1, > 55 years old, diabetes diagnosed > or = 5 years; group 2, < or = 55 years old, diabetes diagnosed > or = 5 years; group 3, > 55 years, diabetes diagnosed < 5 years; and group 4, < or = 55 years, diabetes diagnosed < 5 years. Buccal and lingual pockets were deeper and lingual and buccal recessions greater for groups diagnosed 5 or more years ago, (P < 0.0001). In groups diagnosed less than 5 years, higher recession indices were found for patients older than 55. The loss of buccal insertion was also greater for groups diagnosed 5 or more years ago (P < 0.0001). For groups diagnosed less than 5 years ago, the loss was greater in the group older than 55 (P = 0.01). There was a marginal difference in gingival bleeding among the 4 groups (P = 0.047). Post-hoc analysis showed differences between the 2 groups who had been diagnosed less than 5 years, with lower indices for patients < or = 55. All groups were statistically different regarding bone loss (P < 0.0001), with higher indices for the groups with older age, and for groups with 5 or more years since diagnosis. There was no difference in dental mobility among the 4 groups (P = 0.0981). It was concluded that years since diagnosis of diabetes is more significant than age for severity of periodontal disease in NIDDM.

Assessment of risk for periodontal disease. I. Risk indicators for attachment loss

Specific risk indicators associated with either susceptibility or resistance to severe forms of periodontal disease were evaluated in a cross-section of 1,426 subjects, 25 to 74 years of age, mostly metropolitan dwellers, residing in Erie County, New York, and surrounding areas. The study sample exhibited a wide range of periodontal disease experience defined by different levels of attachment loss. Therefore, it was possible to accurately assess associations between the extent of periodontal disease and patient characteristics including age, smoking, systemic diseases, exposure to occupational hazards, and subgingival microbial flora. Age was the factor most strongly associated with attachment loss, with odds ratios for subjects 35 to 44 years old ranging from 1.72 (95% CI: 1.18 to 2.49) to 9.01 (5.86 to 13.89) for subjects 65 to 74 years old. Diabetes mellitus was the only systemic disease positively associated with attachment loss with an odds ratio of 2.32 (95% CI: 1.17-4.60). Smoking had relative risks ranging from 2.05 (95% CI: 1.47-2.87) for light smokers increasing to 4.75 (95% CI: 3.28-6.91) for heavy smokers. The presence of two bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Bacteroides forsythus, in the subgingival flora represented risks of 1.59 (95% CI: 1.11-2.25) and 2.45 (95% CI: 1.87-3.24), respectively. Our results show that age, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and the presence of subgingival P. gingivalis and B. forsythus are risk indicators for attachment loss. These associations remain valid after controlling for gender, socioeconomic status, income, education, and oral hygiene status expressed in terms of supragingival plaque accumulation and subgingival calculus. Longitudinal, intervention, and etiology-focused studies will establish whether these indicators are true risk factors.

Periodontal disease experience in adult long-duration insulin-dependent diabetics

The aim of this study was to analyse periodontal disease experience in 40- to 70-year-old, sex-matched insulin-dependent diabetics and non-diabetics. The study involved 83 diabetics and 99 non-diabetics. The clinical and radiographic examination comprised recordings of number of teeth, presence of plaque, gingival conditions, probing pocket depth and alveolar bone level (main variable). Diabetics aged 40 to 49 years had more periodontal pockets > or = 6 mm and more extensive alveolar bone loss than non-diabetics in the same age-group. There was also a significantly higher number of subjects belonging to classification groups with severe periodontal disease experience among diabetics in that age-group. In the age-groups 50-59 and 60-69 years, no major differences were found. The disease duration in these 3 age groups was 25.6 years, 20.5 years and 18.6 years, respectively, and the age of onset thus appears to be an important risk factor for future periodontal destruction.

Tetracycline administration increases protein (presumably procollagen) synthesis and secretion in periodontal ligament fibroblasts of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Streptozotocin-induced, insulin-deficient diabetic adult rats were daily administrated either minocycline or a chemically-modified non-antimicrobial tetracycline (CMT) by oral gavage for a 3-week time period; untreated diabetic and non-diabetic rats served as controls. On day 21, all rats received an intravenous injection of 3H-proline followed by perfusion fixation with an aldehyde mixture at 20 minutes and 4 hours after isotope injection. The upper and lower mandibles of these rats were dissected and processed for quantitative electron microscopic autoradiography to study 3H-proline utilization by fibroblasts in the periodontal ligament (PDL) of molars. In the non-diabetic controls, at 20 min after 3H-proline injection, radioprecursor was incorporated by the Golgi-RER system of PDL fibroblasts. At the 4-h time period, most of the label was present over the collagen fibers around these cells. In contrast, PDL fibroblasts in the untreated diabetic rats showed marked abnormalities ultrastructurally and minimal uptake (20 min) and secretion (4 h) of labeled proline. At both time periods, in both minocycline- and CMT-treated diabetic rats, fibroblasts were structurally more normal and the radioprecursor was localized in the fibroblasts and the PDL matrix in a pattern similar to that seen in the control rats. These results suggest that the diabetes-induced structural abnormalities and suppression of synthesis and secretion of protein (presumably collagen and its precursor) by PDL fibroblasts can be restored to near-normal by administration of a tetracycline and that this effect is mediated by a non-antimicrobial property of this family of antibiotics.

The relationship between reduction in periodontal inflammation and diabetes control: a report of 9 cases

The established correlation between diabetes and periodontal diseases and the increasing prevalence of Type II diabetes in the general population indicate that dental practitioners will probably treat an increasing number of diabetic patients. Despite the fact that there is little scientific evidence to support the concept, it has been generally accepted that treatment for periodontal disease in diabetic patients may reduce insulin requirements and improve metabolic balance. However, to date no one has evaluated the effects of periodontal therapy on the metabolic state of the poorly-controlled diabetic patient. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of controlling gingival inflammation on blood glucose levels as determined by glycosylation of hemoglobin and albumin.

Periodontal conditions in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In the present investigation, the frequency and severity of periodontal disease was assessed in a group of 71 patients with a mean duration of 16.5 years of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDD). The diabetics, aged 17-63 years, were under treatment at the diabetic outpatient clinic of the III Department of Medicine, University Central Hospital of Helsinki and at two clinics of the Helsinki Health Centre. Based upon their long-term medical records, 44 individuals were assessed to have a poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (PIDD). At baseline of the present study, the PIDD group had a mean blood glucose level of 11.8 mmol/l and a mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1) level of 10.7%. 27 subjects were classified as having a controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (CIDD). For each individual, site-specific recordings were made for the plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, loss of attachment, bleeding after probing, gingival recession and radiographic loss of alveolar bone. Under similar plaque conditions, adult subjects with a long-term PIDD were found to have lost more approximal attachment and bone than subjects with a CIDD (P = 0.046, P = 0.019). These differences were not equally obvious when the subjects were classified according to the history of medical complications, such as retinopathies, neuropathies and nephropathies.

Defective neutrophil function in an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. A case report

The objective of this study was to evaluate the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function in a poorly controlled adult insulin-dependent diabetic patient (IDDM) with severe recurrent periodontitis, while describing the microbiological and clinical findings. Chemotaxis, superoxide production, and phagocytosis and killing of Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis by the IDDM PMN were evaluated 1 week before treatment relative to a healthy, matched control. These analyses revealed a significant (P less than .05) depression in the number of IDDM PMNs migrating along an FMLP gradient (Boyden chamber assay). In addition, a significant (P less than .05) enhancement of IDDM PMN superoxide production in response to opsonized zymosan (cytochrome C reduction) was observed. Phagocytosis and killing (fluorochrome phagocytosis assay) by IDDM PMN of two P. gingivalis strains was also impaired significantly (P less than .05). The subgingival microflora contained significant levels of P. gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Eikenella corrodens, and Peptostreptococcus micros. Periodontal treatment consisted of extraction of hopeless teeth, scaling and root planing and 3 weeks of Augmentin therapy. The antibiotic therapy resulted in unrecoverable numbers of the putative pathogens and a reduction in both gingival inflammation and disease progression. The IDDM healing response to previous surgical treatment and extractions was poor, presumably due to a marked thrombocytopenia (91 x 10(3) platelets/mm3).

The prevalence of root caries in a diabetic population

The objective of this study was to assess the level of root caries in a population of diabetic adults. Diabetics are of special interest because they are alleged to be periodontally compromised and have atypical patterns of refined carbohydrate ingestion. Diabetic subjects were patients of the Joslin Diabetic Center in Boston and had significantly elevated blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels over at least a ten-year period. Eligible subjects had to be between the ages of 45 and 65 and have a minimum of ten teeth and three sites with recession. Data were collected on coronal caries, oral hygiene, gingivitis, pocket depth, recession, and root caries and were compared with data from control subjects from a larger non-diabetic study group. There were 88 diabetics and 185 controls with mean ages of 55.7 and 56.3 years, respectively. The groups were found to be similar with respect to the numbers of buccal surface sites with gingival recession and the numbers of carious root lesions. There was a distinct difference, however, with respect to restored root surfaces: 1.76 mean filled surfaces were observed in the controls, as compared with 0.49 in the diabetics. A Katz Root Caries Index (for which lesions are calculated as a percentage of the numbers of exposed root surfaces) was determined to be 15.2 for the controls and 7.1 for the diabetics. A reasonable inference is that these differences are the result of a restricted ingestion of refined carbohydrates by the diabetic group. This was confirmed by a dietary survey of subsamples from the diabetic and non-diabetic groups.

Disease concurrence in diabetes mellitus: a study of concurrent morbidity over 12 months using diabetes mellitus as an example

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The aim was to examine disease concurrence, using diabetes mellitus as an ullustrative example.

DESIGN

The study involved a general practice morbidity survey, conducted over 12 months in 1981-82. All patients who consulted their general practitioners with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2) were identified and the number of these who consulted with additional morbidities were counted for each rubric of the Royal College of General Practitioners' modification of the International Classification of Disease. These observed numbers were then compared with expected numbers calculated from the total non-diabetic population after standardisation by age. Standardised person consulting ratios (SPCR) were derived and the 99% confidence intervals (CI) surrounding these values calculated.

SETTING

This was a national survey involving the whole of England and Wales.

PATIENTS

The study involved 280,000 patients from selected general practices, of whom 953 males and 1035 females consulted their general practitioners with diabetes.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

In an examination of 80 disease rubrics in the diabetic population in which there were at least 20 observed or expected cases, there were 34 among males and 28 among females in which there were increased values of the SPCR, and none in which the SPCR was decreased. SPCRs were high for infections generally (bacterial, fungal, and viral) and particularly so for cardiovascular disorders and for hypothyroidism in males. Though SPCRs for upper respiratory infections were increased, those for asthma and hay fever were not. SPCRs for neoplasms as a group were not raised.

CONCLUSION

By confirming other work and widely held clinical opinion, this study has shown the potential of this data base for the examination of disease concurrence.

Periodontal disease in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The relationship between diabetes mellitus and oral health status was determined in Pima Indians from the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. This tribe of native Americans has the world's highest reported incidence and prevalence of non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes mellitus. The probing attachment level, alveolar bone loss, age, sex, Calculus Index, Plaque Index, Gingival Index, fluorosis, and DMFT as well as the diabetic status was assessed in 1,342 Pima Indians who were at least partially dentate. The prevalence and severity of destructive periodontal disease was determined by measuring probing attachment loss and radiographically apparent interproximal crestal alveolar bone loss, two independent but correlated indicators of periodontal destruction. Only diabetic status, age, and the presence of subgingival calculus were significantly associated with both increased prevalence and greater severity of destructive periodontal disease in this population. Diabetic status was significantly and strongly related to both the prevalence and severity of disease after adjusting for the effects of demographic variables and several indices of oral health including the Plaque Index. Subjects with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of destructive periodontitis with an odds ratio of 2.81 (95% confidence interval 1.91 to 4.13) when attachment loss is used to measure the disease. The odds ratio for diabetic subjects was 3.43 (95% confidence interval 2.28 to 5.16) where bone loss was used to measure periodontal destruction. These findings demonstrate tht diabetes increases the risk of developing destructive periodontal disease about threefold. Furthermore, diabetes increases the risk of developing periodontal disease in a manner which cannot be explained on the basis of age, sex, and hygiene or other dental measures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)