The relationship of inflammatory periodontal disease to diabetic status in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients.

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the relationship of inflammatory periodontal disease to the diabetic status of the insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patient. 52 IDDM patients, ages 11-22 years, were evaluated. These patients were closely monitored at regular intervals in the University of Kentucky pediatric diabetic clinic. A periodontal examination was carried out for each patient. The patients were then assigned to a periodontitis or non-periodontitis group. Moderate to advanced periodontitis was found in 5.8% of the subjects. The gingival index and sulcular bleeding index were significantly higher in the periodontitis group (P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups for plaque index, age of diabetic onset, duration of diabetes, present age, insulin dosage/weight, or serum glucose (P greater than 0.05). There was a greater % of ketoacidosis, retinopathy and neuropathy in the periodontitis group. IDDM patients with neurological complications or a history of chronic infections had a significantly higher gingival index score than those without the complication (P less than 0.05).