Compromised periodontal status in an urban Sri Lankan population with type 2 diabetes
(Journal of Clinical Periodontology; doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2009.01519.x)
Philip M Preshaw, Nimali de Silva, Giles I McCracken, Devaka J S Fernando, Caroline F Dalton, Nick D Steen, Peter A Heasman
Diabetes and gum disease may be associated differently across populations. Studies using dental examinations can help clarify which aspects of gum health differ, rather than treating every measurement as the same outcome.
Researchers recruited 285 adults with type 2 diabetes and 72 comparison participants in urban Sri Lanka. Twelve comparison participants were excluded after glucose screening. Examinations measured gum bleeding, recession, pocket depth and loss of tooth support. HbA1c information was available for a subset of participants with diabetes.
People with diabetes had more gum bleeding and recession. Periodontitis was identified in approximately 33% of the diabetes group and 22% of the comparison group, but this difference was not statistically clear. Some pocket measurements differed between groups. Within the diabetes group, the study did not find a clear relationship between periodontal status and HbA1c. Missing HbA1c results limited comparisons between glucose-level subgroups.
The findings suggest differences in certain gum-health measures, but do not justify saying this study proved a higher prevalence of periodontitis in diabetes. They also show that a current HbA1c result may not closely reflect gum damage accumulated over many years. The study cannot establish whether gum treatment improves glucose levels, because it compared existing conditions rather than testing treatment.
This study provides a snapshot rather than showing what happened first. People in the comparison groups may differ in ways the researchers could not fully measure, such as other health conditions, medicines or access to care. Statistical adjustment helps, but cannot remove every difference. A relationship seen across a group is also not a forecast for one person. The findings are best viewed as a reason for further research, not proof that changing one measurement will prevent or treat another condition.
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Periodontitis is the 6th most prevalent condition globally
Periodontitis and diabetes are bidirectionally linked
Diabetic complications are increased if you have both diseases
Successful periodontal treatment can improve blood glucose control
Periodontitis is the 6th most prevalent condition globally
Periodontitis and diabetes are bidirectionally linked
Diabetic complications are increased if you have both diseases
Successful periodontal treatment can improve blood glucose control
