DIABETIC PATIENTS AND PERIODONTITIS: A STUDY

Abstract

Due to a disturbed metabolism a patient suffering from diabetes mellitus is particularly prone to periodontal disease, stomatitis, and caries. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of un-con-trolled diabetes on the health of periodontal tissues.In this cross sectional study 100 patients were selected by convenient purposive sampling. Vari-ables like age, gender, and occupation were recorded along with presence and absence of diabetes mellitus. Oral examination was done by a qualified dentist. Grades of Plaque, gum recession and Mobility index were recorded. Descriptive statistics, deposition of plaque, gum recession and mobility index were compared in diabetics and non-diabetics. It was found that all diabetics and majority of non-diabetics (87%) had plaque whereas 13% of the non-diabetics did not show plaque. Majority of non-diabetics (65.8) did not show mobility index whereas majority of diabetics (85.5) had mobility index. Gum recession was seen to be almost equal in diabetics and non-diabetics.It was concluded from this study that a relationship does exist between un-contoled diabetes and periodontal tissues.