The periodontal status of 25 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (age range 58 to 76) was investigated and compared with 40 non-diabetic control subjects (age range 59 to 77). Surfaces with visible plaque and bleeding after probing, calculus, recessions, and pathological pockets were examined. The total attachment loss was calculated as a sum of recessions and pockets in millimeters. Mesial and distal bone loss was measured from panoramic radiographs and mean alveolar bone loss was calculated. Periodontal disease was considered advanced when mean alveolar bone loss was over 50%, or 2 or more teeth had pockets > or = 6 mm. Microbiological analysis comprised the detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Bacteroides forsythus by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Patients with NIDDM had significantly more often advanced periodontitis than control subjects, 40.0% and 12.5%, respectively. Diabetic patients did not harbor more pathogens than the control subjects. The HbA1C level deteriorated in patients with advanced periodontitis, but not in other patients with NIDDM, when compared to the situation 2 to 3 years earlier. Advanced periodontitis seems to be associated with the impairment of the metabolic control in patients with NIDDM, and a regular periodontal surveillance is therefore necessary.

– The subjects of this study were 26 lac to vegetarians and their age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Clinical and radiologic examinations were made and samples of wax‐stimulated whole saliva were collected. Dental erosions were recorded and documented with photographs and plaster models. Incipient, moderate and grave erosive defects were observed in 26.9%, 19.2% and 30.8% of the lactovegetarians, respectively. In controls, however, no erosions were observed. When tested by multiple linear regression analysis, the main factors affecting dental erosions were the rate of flow of saliva., and consumption of vinegar and vinegar conserves, citrus fruits and acidic berries.

Studies of the effect of general bone loss on periodontal condition and on development of periodontal pockets suggest that there is no clear correlation between periodontal health or number of teeth and the general mineral status of the skeleton. In some reports, however, deep periodontal pockets have been correlated with good mineral status in the jawbones and skeleton. The purpose of this study of 227 healthy postmenopausal women aged 48 to 56 years was to determine whether advanced alveolar bone loss, diagnosed by panoramic radiographs, and periodontal probing depths or number of remaining teeth were correlated with the bone mineral status of the skeleton and cortical bone in the mandible. The results suggest that individuals with high mineral values in the skeleton seem to retain their teeth with deep periodontal pockets more easily than those with osteoporosis. This finding may especially motivate treatment of persons suffering from advanced periodontal disease but having good mineral status.

An air-powder abrasive system was tested among 20 volunteers, who had healthy gingiva or slight gingivitis, but no periodontal pockets. Impressions of randomly selected areas (n = 103) were taken before and after airpolishing and positive replicas were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Gingival bleeding increased statistically significantly (p less than 0.001) during the treatment. Also gingival erosive changes were increased when using airpolishing technique (p less than 0.001). The erosive changes observed by SEM and the subjective symptoms during and after the operation positively correlated to the presence of gingival inflammation (p less than 0.001). It can be concluded that also the negative aspects of the airpolishing technique should be taken into consideration, especially when operating near the gingival margin.

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