Implications of Diabetes Mellitus on Minor Oral Surgical Procedures - A Questionnaire Survey Among Undergraduate Student Practitioners

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder in which the impaired leukocyte function and the metabolic abnormalities lead to inadequate migration of neutrophils and macrophages to the wound, along with reduced chemotaxis. Such cellular changes would predispose individuals to an increased risk of wound infection. To minimize the risk of an intraoperative emergency, clinicians need to have thorough knowledge about the disease before initiating any dental treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the difference in understanding between final year dental students and interns towards diabetes and its implications in oral surgical procedures. A questionnaire-based survey consisting of 15 questions was circulated via an online platform, survey planet. 100 participants who were dental students were included in the study. Responses were tabulated and Chi-square analysis was performed using SPSS software version 20.0.The results showed significant difference in approach towards diabetes between both the survey groups with p = 0.001 < 0.05. Whether continuing medical education programmes or altered teaching planner will help in better understanding and comprehensive patient management needs to be evaluated with further studies