Diabetes and oral health: the importance of oral health-related behavior.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to explore oral health-related behavior, how patients with diabetes differ from patients not diagnosed with diabetes in their oral health and whether oral health-related behavior moderates the oral health status of patients  with diabetes.


METHODS
Survey and chart review data were collected from 448 patients (52% male, 48% female, average age: 57 years) of which 77 were diagnosed with diabetes (17%).


RESULTS
Patients with diabetes had a higher percentage of teeth with mobility than those  not diagnosed with diabetes (14% vs. 8%, p=0.023), as well as gingival recession (16% vs. 12%, p=0.035) and more teeth with recession in the esthetic zone (1.17 vs. 0.88, p=0.046). They also had more decayed, missing and filled surfaces due to caries (101 vs. 82, p<0.001) and more missing  teeth due to caries (11 vs. 7, p<0.001). Patients with diabetes brushed and flossed less frequently. Patients with diabetes who did not brush regularly had poorer periodontal health (percentage of teeth with probing depth of <4 mm: 82% vs. 60%, p=0.039, 4 to 6 mm: 34% vs. 17%, p=0.059)  and more caries (percentage of decayed teeth: 32% vs. 15%, p=0.033) than regularly brushing patients with diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
Educating patients with diabetes about the importance of good oral self care needs to become a priority for their oral health care providers.
College of Dental Medicine, Midwestern University, Illinois, USA.
Preetha P
PP
Kanjirath
Seung Eun
SE
Kim
Marita
M
Rohr Inglehart
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000150:complications; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D012737:Sex Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications; D014086:Tooth Mobility / Q000150:complications; D014099:Toothbrushing; D055815:Young Adult