Associations between periodontal disease and selected risk factors of early complications among youth with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: a pilot study

Abstract

Background: Most studies evaluating the relation between periodontal disease and diabetes in children have not considered diabetes type.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between periodontal damage and risk factors of diabetes complications among youth by diabetes type in a pilot study.

Subjects: 155 participants (126 with type 1 diabetes; 29 with type 2 diabetes) from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study in South Carolina who were <20 yr of age at diagnosis.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of periodontal damage (bone loss ≥3 mm on ≥1 permanent tooth site on pre-existing bitewing radiographs) and diabetes type assigned by the provider at diagnosis.

Results: Periodontal damage was observed in 52 individuals (34%) overall, but was more common in type 2 (16/29, 55%) vs. type 1 diabetes (37/126, 29%). Among youth with type 2 diabetes, those with periodontal damage had lower fasting c-peptide (2.3 vs. 3.4 ng/mL, p-value=0.01), and higher triglyceride levels (171.8 vs. 87.2, p-value=0.01) than those without periodontal damage after adjustment for age, sex, race, education level, family income, duration of diabetes, diabetes control, time between study visit and date of radiograph, tooth brushing, and visits to the dentist. Blood pressure, waist circumference, LDL cholesterol and A1c were not associated with periodontal damage.

Conclusions: The associations between periodontal disease and risk factors for diabetes complications differ by diabetes type. Periodontal damage is associated with impaired beta cell function and metabolic syndrome components in type 2 but not type 1 diabetes. These findings need to be confirmed in larger, prospective studies.