CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE TOOTH LOSS IN PERIODONTAL DISEASE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS

Help in detecting diabetes may come from an unlikely source like a dentist as an allied health team, as it is rightly said ‘oral cavity is the mirror of the body system’. They may diagnose undetected cases of diabetes and may refer to a physician for further evaluation and treatment. Research studies have found a link between periodontal (gum) disease and diabetes. Symptoms of the disease often appear in the mouth, while almost one-third of people with diabetes have severe periodontal disease. This is believed to be a result of the diabetic patient’s greater susceptibility to developing infections. Conversely, severe periodontal disease may increase the risk of developing diabetes, and may make it more difficult to manage blood sugar levels. However, studies have found that patients who receive treatment for periodontal disease may be able to control the condition with less insulin. Dentists often detect symptoms of diabetes during routine oral health examinations. Foamy saliva, unusually dry and irritated tissue, poor periodontal conditions inside the mouth are tell-tale signs of the condition. And, diabetic patients often lose more teeth compared to patients without the disease. Proper and effective management of patients with diabetes requires that the practice evaluate all aspects of patient interaction. Systems need to be customized so that all procedures and patient communication scripts are implemented consistently to meet the distinct needs of patients with diabetes. Hence based on above findings the present study was planned for clinical evaluation of the tooth loss in periodontal disease in diabetic patients. The present study was planned in Department of Public Health Dentistry, Buddha Institute of Dental Sciences, Patna ,Bihar for a period of six months from January 2019 to June 2019. Total 40 patients were evaluated during this period . Out of that 20 cases are of Diabetic patients were enrolled in first group and another second group consist of 20 control patients without any diseases. The data generated from the present study concludes that there is significant difference in teeth loss amongst diabetics and non-diabetics. People with diabetes should be aware about the periodontal complications associated with it and should go for regular dental visits. Therefore it is the need of the hour to educate the dentists, general physicians and specialists about the association of systemic diseases with oral health and vice versa as many of the systemic diseases may be prevented and improved by improving oral hygiene. Keywords: Tooth Loss, Periodontal Disease, Diabetic Patients, etc.