Oral symptoms and signs in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A focus on diabetic neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated oral disorders and compared the findings with the occurrence of neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Mucosal diseases, tooth loss, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction were examined in 45 patients with long-term type 2 diabetes mellitus and in 77 control subjects. The occurrence of neuropathy was evaluated by neurophysiologic tests.


RESULTS
Of patients with diabetes, 56% suffered from dry mouth and 18% from glossodynia; of controls, correspondingly, 36% and 7% (P <.05); 2 or more mucosal lesions were detected in 42% and 20%, respectively (P =. 008). Temporomandibular joint dysfunction was found in 27% of subjects with diabetes and in 16% of control subjects. Peripheral neuropathy was present in 42% of patients with diabetes and in none of the controls (P <.01), and autonomic parasympathetic neuropathy in 54% and 31%, respectively (P =.02). Peripheral and autonomic parasympathetic neuropathies were independent risk factors for tooth loss and temporomandibular dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetic neuropathy was found to be associated with tooth loss and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Collin
H L
HL
Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Niskanen
L
L
Uusitupa
M
M
Töyry
J
J
Collin
P
P
Koivisto
A M
AM
Viinamäki
H
H
Meurman
J H
JH
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000209:etiology