Periodontitis and Metabolic Control: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the periodontal condition and the metabolic control of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 were evaluated pre- and post (30 days) treatment of the periodontitis through the following exams: glycemia, glycosylated hemoglobin, plaque index, gingival bleeding index and periodontal pocket depth index. Periodontal treatment consisted of: Scaling, root planning and plaque control, associated with systemic antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin. Seventeen patients (12 women and 5 men; mean age = 55.94 years) were included. The chief complaints were: gingival bleeding (n=13); gingival pain (n=8), tooth mobility (n=3), gingival swelling (n=2) and halitosis (n=2). The mean time of these complaints ranged from 2 months to 20 years. None of them had ever received guidance on oral hygiene or dental assessment. There was a reduction in the following indexes (30 days after the periodontal treatment): plaque, from 41.79±24% to 12.26±13%) (p0.0005), gingival bleeding from 51.58±25%) to 15.77±15% (p0.0005), periodontal pocket depth from 0.98±0.91 mm to 1.76±0.63 mm) (p0.0005). In 15 patients there was a reduction in the glycosylated hemoglobin (10.85±3.03% to 8.72±1.68%) (p0.0005). This preliminary study shows that patients of this sample had chronic and severe periodontal disease; there was a reduction in the glycosylated hemoglobin levels, but not of glycemia, 30 days after periodontal treatment. Long-standing studies are necessary; however patients with diabetes mellitus need control of chronic infections, including periodontal disease.