Western Society of Periodontics

Clinical Studies

Volume Number 4, 1995

Periodontal status and selected cultivable anaerobic microflora of insulin-dependent juvenile diabetics

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in a population of Italian IDDM patients under optimal metabolic control as compared with their nondiabetic siblings of the same age range. Sixteen families with at least one child (age 9-12) affected by diabetes and with one child in the same age range not affected with the disease were included in the study. Clinical parameters were measured six weeks before drawing blood for glycosylated hemoglobin. Periodontal evaluation included radiographs, probing depths (PD), and attachment levels (AL) around all permanent teeth. Two sites were sampled for microbiological studies. Species isolated included P. gingivalis, P. intermedius, A.a., and Capnocytophaga. No significant differences were detected in any of the clinical indices. The mean AL for the diabetics (JD) was 2.32 + 0.83 versus 2.2 + 0.85 in the nondiabetics (H). In JD 6/16 patients had at least one site with PD > 5 mm versus 8/16 in the H. The H group exhibited a slightly worse clinical pattern than JD, but it was not statistically significant. One case with poor metabolic control showed a maximum value for AL of 14 mm and PD of 7 mm. The same case also harbored 12.5 % of P. gingivalis. Microflora obtained from two sites, constant and deepest sites, showed a similar composition for both groups. This was dominated by Capnocytophaga, with a relatively large percentage of P. gingivalis, and lower levels of P. intermedius and A.a. Two JD patients had A.a. and few H had A.a. in one site. H and JD + for A.a. were not from the same family. Two cluster groups were identified in JD: cluster IV, dominated by Capnocytophaga and low levels of P. gingivalis; and cluster, with high levels of P. gingivalis and low levels of Capnocytophaga. Cluster V had greater AL and PD when compared with the mean. In conclusion, there were few differences between well-controlled JD patients and their healthy siblings in this age population. [c.c.]