[Diabetes as a risk factor for tooth loss in the geriatric population].
OBJECTIVE
A comparative study of the level and type of tooth loss, and the use of dental prostheses, was performed on one diabetic sample and another non-diabetic one, taken from elderly people receiving health care at the San Pablo Health Centre, Sevilla, in order to assess the repercussion of diabetes on tooth loss.


METHODS
A descriptive and observational study of a crossover type.


METHODS
Primary care. San Pablo Health Centre, Sevilla.


METHODS
Patients aged > 65 requesting health care for any reason at our PC clinic during March-April 1995.


RESULTS
98 patients, 42 diabetics and 56 non-diabetics, were studied. The percentage of toothlessness was significantly greater in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic ones. None of the patients had kept all their teeth. 52.4% of the diabetic patients wore complete prostheses, percentage which went down to 25% in non-diabetics. 57.1% of diabetics and 44.6% of non-diabetics wore some type of prosthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
We can consider diabetes as a risk factor in tooth loss among the elderly. Applying buco-dental hygiene measures from the diagnosis of diabetes, along with regular dental check-ups, might significantly lessen diabetics' dental loss over their lives. Opening the elderly person's mouth, whether he/she is diabetic or not, and evaluating oral mucus and dental structure, should be a investigative procedure in primary care.
Sampedro Abascal
C
C
Centro de Salud San Pablo, Sevilla.
Segura Egea
J J
JJ
Lapetra Peralta
J
J
Llamas Cadaval
R
R
D000368:Aged; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
La diabetes como factor de riesgo de edentación en la población geriátrica.