Comparison of oral Lactobacillus and Streptococcus mutans between diabetic dialysis patients with non-diabetic dialysis patients and healthy people

Introduction: diabetes is associated with higher rates of caries, on the other hand some studies have shown that renal failure can be protective against dental caries.objectives: in this study we compared oral lactobacillus and streptococcus mutans between diabetic dialysis and non-diabetic dialysis patients and the normal population.patients and methods: during november 2014 to january 2014, 85 people that referred to our medical care center entered the study. the sample included 30 diabetic dialysis, 28 non-diabetic dialysis patients and 27 healthy people. oral saliva samples were obtained from their tongue and oral floor for microbiological examination. patients’ data were compared before and after dialysis.results: the amount of lactobacillus and s. mutans did not show a significant difference between the three groups (p = 0.092 and p = 0.966 for s. mutans and lactobacillus, respectively). a positive and meaningful correlation was seen between fasting blood sugar (fbs) levels and the amount of s. mutans in the diabetic dialysis group (p = 0.023; r = 0.413). a meaningful and positive correlation was also seen between the amount of blood urea nitrogen (bun) after dialysis and the amount of oral s. mutans in the non-diabetic dialysis group (p = 0.03; r = 0.403).conclusion: despite the differences in the prevalence of caries that have been reported between renal failure patients and diabetic patients, we did not find any significant difference between diabetic dialysis, non-diabetic dialysis patients and the healthy population, regarding their amount of oral cariogenic bacteria.