ORAL DISEASE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS – A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Background and Aims. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent systemic diseases found in the human adult population. However, the impact of diabetes mellitus, particularly type 2, on oral health is a controversial subject that is far from being clarified. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the oral health of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in order to detect the main oral pathological changes occurring in these patients. Material and method. For this study, 328 patients who presented for dental treatments in the period May 2015 – May 2016 were available. Of these, 33 patients with T2DM, who made up the diabetes group, and 79 patients who formed the control group were selected. Diabetes group was selected from patients that presented no other systemic disorders that could determine the appearance of oral lesions except for T2DM. The control group was selected in order to have general characteristics similar to the diabetes group. Results. Patients in the diabetes group had a mean tooth loss value of 12.69±7.47 compared to patients in the non-diabetic group, who had a mean value of 6.29±4.62. Non-odontogenic oral pathology such as chronic candidiasis, salivary disorders and lichen planus was present in 51.52% of all patients with T2DM, while in the control group this was absent. Conclusions. The presence of diabetes mellitus favors tooth loss and the development of non-diabetic oral lesions.