Initial Tolerance and Tissue Response to Complete Dentures by Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Purpose The oral effects of diabetes in dentate patients have been studied extensively, but little clinical data has been collected with regards to edentulous patients who have diabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are differences between diabetic and nondiabetic patients in initial patient tolerance and tissue response to complete dentures. Materials and Methods Complete dentures were constructed for 62 diabetic and 56 nondiabetic patients. Treatment followed accepted prosthodontic principles recommended for diabetic patients. Twenty-four hour and 1 week post-placement appointments consisted of a patient questionnaire, intraoral examinations and indicated adjustments. The variables studied were the differences between responses to the questionnaire and the frequency of type, location, and size of clinically visible areas of mucosal irritation reported on standardized tissue evaluation forms. Results Analysis of the responses to the questionnaire indicated diabetic patients reported xerostomia more often than nondiabetics. There were no statistically significant differences in initial tissue response to new complete dentures between the diabetic and nondiabetic patients. A statistically significant difference in tissue response was reported within the diabetic group, significantly fewer diabetic patients exhibited oral irritations at the second examination than at the first examination. Conclusions The results of the present study indicate that when prosthodontic principles recommended for diabetic complete denture patients are followed, there are no clinically significant differences between diabetic and nondiabetic patients in initial patient tolerance and tissue response to complete dentures.