Periodontal disease and type I diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there were differences between the periodontal status of a juvenile diabetic population and that of a non-diabetic control group of similar age and gender distribution. The study group consisted of 26 type I diabetic patients with an average of 13.42 years and 24 control subjects. The diabetic patients were evaluated with glycocated hemoglobin to obtain a measure of diabetic control. Clinical periodontal evaluations were performed for all teeth in each subject and consisted of plaque index, gingival fluid flow, gingival index, probing depths, clinical attachment levels, recession, and bleeding on probing. The periodontal evaluations were performed without knowledge of the diabetic condition.
Results showed that average attachment level, probing depths, recession, gingival index, plaque index, and gingival fluid flow were greater in the diabetic group, but not statistically significant. There was no significant association between clinical variables and glycosilated hemoglobin. However, only type I diabetes mellitus patients had a significant association with severity of periodontal disease in gingival inflammation when tooth sites in patient groups were statistically compared. No relationship was demonstrated between increased severity of periodontal disease and duration of diabetes or level of control. [M.O.]
Pinson, M., W.H. Hoffman, J.G. Garnick, and M.S. Litaker, J Clin Periodont, 22:118, 1995