Introduction: As a systemic disease, diabetes mellitus may lead to several complications affecting both the quality and the length of life. While periodontal disease is one of the major oral health problems in patients with diabetes, reports of an increased risk of dental caries among diabetics are controversial.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate oral health status in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in relation to metabolic control of the disease.
Methods: The study included 47 randomly sampled diabetics patients, divided into two groups; those with poorly controlled diabetes (glycosylated haemoglobin--HbA1c > or =9%) and those with better controlled diabetes (HbA1c < 9%). All patients completed a questionnaire about their medical and oral health. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) and plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded.
Results: The patients with poorly controlled diabetes had a significantly higher number of tooth caries compared to those with better controlled diabetes (6.5 +/- 4.3 vs. 4.3 +/- 2.9; p < 0.05). Of periodontal parameters, only PPD was significantly higher in the patients with poorly controlled diabetes than in those with better controlled diabetes (5.8 +/- 0.9 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.8; p < 0.05). DMFT index, PI, PPD and CAL exhibited positive correlation only with patients' age.
Conclusion: The study indicates that there is a relationship between poor control of diabetes and caries, and periodontal disease.