title: The influence of diabetes mellitus on periodontal tissues: a histological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate histological changes that occur in the periodontium of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus without signs of periodontal disease and to establish the influence of this systemic condition upon periodontal structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gingival tissue samples were obtained from 12 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 10 healthy adults, as control group. The specimens were examined using standard dyes as Hematoxylin and Eosin and PAS-Alcian stain, by a microscope with different magnifications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that periodontal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by significant inflammation, affecting both epithelial and connective tissues, with degeneration of dermal papilla, increase in number of inflammatory cells, destruction of reticular fibers and accumulation of dense collagen fibers (fibrosis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limits of this study, diabetic subjects presented distortion in periodontal attachment, with changes in both epithelial and connective tissues, when compared to the healthy controls, suggesting that diabetes mellitus has an independent effect on periodontal tissue. This effect is observed in both groups, so that we considered it to be independent of the periodontal condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology and Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures, Romania. adriana.monea@gmail.com
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monea
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mezei
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*