Effects of saliva substitutes on oral status in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess oral status in a sample of Type 2 diabetic patients before and after therapy with saliva substitutes and oral status in a control group of diabetic patients who were not given saliva substitutes.


METHODS
Salivary flow rate was determined in 134 patients (mean age 47.9 ± 2.9 years) with Type 2 diabetes. Mean salivary rate was significantly low compared with a healthy control group. The sample of 134 patients was randomly divided into two groups of 67 people each. One group was given immunologically active salivary substitutes for 6 months, the other group was given nothing. Each patient of the two groups underwent a dental and periodontal examination at the beginning of the study and 6 months later.


RESULTS
As regards carious teeth and teeth loss, there was no statistical difference between the first group after 6 months of treatment with salivary substitutes and the control group (P>0.01). Salivary substitutes did not significantly reduce the periodontal disease (P>0.01). In the group treated with salivary substitutes, after 6 months of therapy, the average dental plaque index decreased from 2.3 ± 0.73 to 1.6 ± 0.56, patients with gingivitis decreased from 66 to 43% and patients with positive yeast counts decreased from 60 to 37%. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In Type 2 diabetes, in the case of hyposalivation, a therapy with immunologically active saliva substitutes can be of help in reducing the amount of plaque, gingivitis and positive yeast counts.
Montaldo
L
L
Department of Dentistry Department of Nephrology, Second University of Naples, Via L. De Crecchio 4, Naples, Italy. lmontaldo@libero.it
Montaldo
P
P
Papa
A
A
Caramico
N
N
Toro
G
G
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D012464:Saliva, Artificial