title: Long-term control of diabetes mellitus and periodontitis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between long-term control of diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontitis. A total of 75 diabetics (Type I or II) aged 20-70 years with long-term records of their diabetic control were selected for the study. The following periodontal variables were recorded in a randomized half-mouth examination: plaque, calculus (+/-), probing depth (pd) and attachment loss (al). The mean of glycosylated hemoglobin measurements (HbAlc) over the past 2-5 years was used to indicate the long-term control of DM. The study participants were divided into well-, moderately- and poorly-controlled diabetics. An increase in the prevalence, severity and extent of periodontitis with poorer control of diabetes was observed. The extent of calculus also increased with poorer control. In a multiple regression analysis, calculus and long-term control of diabetes were significant variables when pd > or = 4 mm was used as the dependent variable. Age was a significant predictor for al > or = 3 mm but not for pd > or = 4 mm. Sex, duration and type of DM were not significant variables in the regression models. Less than 2% of sites with no calculus demonstrated pd > or = 4 mm. When calculus was present, the frequency of pd > or = 4 mm increased from 6% in the well-controlled diabetics to 16% in the poorly-controlled ones. We conclude that periodontitis in diabetics is associated with long-term metabolic control and presence of calculus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tervonen
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Oliver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000150:complications; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin