Variation in the periodontal health status and the response to oral hygiene education, scaling and root planing were studied in 36 subjects with type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and in 10 non-diabetic control subjects. The age range of the subjects was 24-36 years. The diabetic group was divided into 3 subgroups based on the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) over a 3 year period and the presence of diabetic complications as follows: (D1) subjects with good metabolic control and no complications (n=13), (D2) subjects with varying metabolic control with/without retinopathy (n=15) and (D3) subjects with severe diabetes, i.e., with poor long-term control and/or multiple complications (n= 8). Clinical measurements (plaque, subgingival calculus, probing pocket depth, bleeding after probing and clinical attachment level) were performed at the baseline and 4 weeks and 6 and 12 months after periodontal therapy. The between-group comparisons were made using the Student t-test and ANOVA. Based on the plaque scores, the oral hygiene status was similar in all groups during the whole study. No statistically-significant differences in the periodontal health status could be found between the diabetic group as a whole and the non-diabetic controls at any examination. The level of periodontal health of the diabetics with good control and no complications (D1) and those with moderate control with/without retinopathy (D2) was on the same level with that seen in the non-diabetic controls. Our findings of the significantly higher extent of al > or =2 mm at the baseline and the fast recurrence of pd > or =4 mm during the longitudinal study in diabetic subjects with poor metabolic control and/or multiple complications (D3) indicate increased periodontal breakdown as a complication of DM in these subjects. To be able to assess the periodontal prognosis and the need for periodontal therapy on an individual basis,the clinical practitioner should be well aware of the diabetic status of his/her patients.

This study examined the relationship between the severity of periodontal disease and organ complications in long-term Type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients, taking account of the severity and concomitant existence of these complications. The population studied consisted of 26 Type 1 diabetics 26 to 34 years old, who had had diabetes for at least 10 years. Severity of periodontal disease was shown to increase with severity of organ complications. Patients with advanced complications had significantly more bleeding on probing, pockets > or = 4 mm deep, and more attachment loss than patients with incipient complications or no complications. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the existence of advanced complications was the only diabetes-related factor predicting pockets > or = 4 mm deep. Subgingival calculus, sex, and smoking were other significant variables. Retinopathy was the organ complication most suited to comparison, since it is usually the first to appear and can easily be classified from non-existent to severe. Differences in severity of periodontal disease were less obvious if metabolic balance alone was considered than between subgroups formed on the basis of the existence of advanced complications. Severity of periodontal disease and the existence of complications were more closely related to long-term glucose balance than single, most recent HbA1 values. Prevalence of pockets at sites with subgingival calculus increased with severity of complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The relationship between the occurrence of caries and diabetes was explored in 80 children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The mean age of the subjects was 14.5 years (range 11.7–18.4 years) and duration of diabetes 0.3–15.0 years (mean 6.0 years). DFS indices in poorly controlled subjects (gly-cosylated haemoglobin, HbA₁, values over 13%) were significantly higher than in moderately (HbA₁ 10.0–12.9%) or in well-controlled cases (HbA₁ values < 10%). However, the difference was not statistically significant if adjustments were made for age, age at the onset of diabetes and duration of diabetes (p = 0.1, Ancova). Subjects with caries and/or fillings had significantly higher short- and long-term HbA₁ values than subjects with intact teeth, both if all subjects or subjects with long-term disease (duration of diabetes of at least 2 years, n = 62) were included. This finding was valid after adjustments for age, duration of diabetes and age at the onset of diabetes. Association between poor control and the loss of intact dentition was also demonstrated in subjects whose diabetes was diagnosed before the age of 7. Presence of yeasts was highly associated with poor control of diabetes, and yeasts were more frequently found in the saliva samples of subjects with decayed and/or filled teeth. Instead, salivary flow rates, salivary lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans counts, buffering capacity and pH were not different between the subjects. As well, home care practices were similar, and all subjects had received similar regular dental treatment. In conclusion, poor control of diabetes was found to be associated with caries. The presence of yeasts may be a caries risk indicator in subjects with diabetes, since diabetes may enhance yeast growth, particularly if poorly controlled.

Gingival health (bleeding on probing) and oral hygiene (plaque percent) were assessed in 2 groups of children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). 1st study group included 12 newly diagnosed diabetic children and adolescents (age range 6.3-14.0 years, 5 boys and 7 girls). They were examined on the 3rd day after initial hospital admission and at 2 weeks and 6 weeks after initiation of insulin treatment. Gingival bleeding decreased after 2 weeks of insulin treatment (37.8% versus 19.0%, p < 0.001, paired t-test), and remained at the same level when examined 1 month later while glucose balance was excellent. Another group (n = 80) of insulin-dependent diabetic children and adolescents (age range 11.7-18.4 years, 44 boys and 36 girls) with a mean duration of diabetes 6.0 years (range 0.3-15.0 years) were examined 2x at 3-month intervals. Subjects with poor blood glucose control (glycosylated haemoglobin, HbA1, values over 13%) had more gingival bleeding (46.3% on examination 1, 41.7% on examination 2) than subjects with HbA1 values less than 10% (mean gingival bleeding 35.2% and 26.9%, respectively) or subjects with HbA1 values between 10 to 13% (mean gingival bleeding 35.6% and 33.4%, respectively). Differences were significant on both examinations (p < 0.05, Anova), and remained significant after controlling the groups for differences in age, age at the onset of diabetes, duration of diabetes and pubertal stage (Ancova). Results were not related to differences or changes in dental plaque status, supporting the concept that imbalance of glucose metabolism associated with diabetes predisposes to gingival inflammation. An increase in gingival bleeding in association with hyperglycaemia suggests that hyperglycaemia-associated biological alterations, which lower host resistance toward plaque, have apparently taken place. Consequently, although not all gingivitis proceeds into a destructive periodontal disease, prevention of plaque-induced gingival inflammation should be emphasised, particularly in children and adolescents with poorly controlled diabetes.

The present findings confirm our previous results on increased loss of periodontal support in subjects with complicated DM already at an early age.