Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontitis: Lower Income - More Complicated Course of Disease

Author(s):

Jurate Peceliuniene, Irena Zukauskaite, Neringa Sadauskaite and Antanas Norkus

Aim: To evaluate the complaints of periodontal disease, oral hygiene and care related conditions, knowledge of diabetes control and lifestyle in diabetes mellitus patients with periodontal pathology (DP). Methods: 44 DP patients were enrolled into the pilot study. Subjects were divided into two groups by periodontal status: slight periodontal status (loss of ≤ two teeth, N=24) and severe periodontal status (SPS) (loss of ≥ three teeth, N=18). Results: Major complaints about periodontal disease were bleeding (95.5%), pain (40.9%). Most patients reported brushing twice a day (47.7%), for one minute (53.5%), using the floss less than every other day (63.6%), and having professional oral hygiene at least once a year (56.8%). 59% patients did not know the result of their blood glucose test for diabetes control. Most of the subjects had vocational education (40.9%) and income of 201-400 euros per month (47.7%). SPS was related with lower income – these patients could buy less of expensive dental care items (such as dental rinse aid) or seek for professional oral hygiene. Conclusions: Evaluation of subjective patient data showed that the control of diabetes mellitus in DP patients is poor. This can lead to an increased gum bleeding or tooth loss. In order to improve the treatment of such patients, targeted training of diabetes and periodontitis interdisciplinary management is needed for family doctors, endocrinologists and dentists. The SPS may be related with lower income, expensive dental care and unaffordable professional oral hygiene. Therefore, systematic prevention programs are needed for those patients, who are at this risk.