Diabetes and Oral Health: A Case-Control Study

Background: diabetes mellitus, according to world healthorganization (who) is a silent epidemic which affects largenumber of people around the world and is directly related to theoral health status of the patients.objectives: to know the prevalence of common dental diseasessuch as dental caries, periodontal diseases (pyorrhea), and treatmentneeds in a group of adult diabetic patients in private medicalestablishments of tumkur city, south india, in comparison withnon-diabetic patients. to create awareness among general medicalpractitioners about the common oral manifestations of diabetesand the importance of periodical dental check up for diabetics.methods: a group of 300 diabetic patients (males = 186,females = 114) and a control group of 300 non-diabetics(males = 180, females = 120) matched by age and sex were examinedaccording to who criteria, for a period of eight months.results: the prevalence of dental caries was comparatively morein non-diabetics (32.3%) than in diabetics (13.6%). however,the prevalence of periodontal diseases (pyorrhea) was more indiabetics (92.6%) when compared to non-diabetics (83%).conclusions: oral health is an integral part of general health.though dental caries was comparatively low in diabetics,periodontal status was compromised. complex treatment needswas more in the diabetics (58%) when compared to controls(41%). regular follow-up of dental problems of the diabetics andoral health education is much required.