A retrospective study to evaluate the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the severity of periodontal disease. A preliminary investigation

Aim: A preliminary investigation to assess the relationship in the severity of periodontal disease in diabetics when compared with non-diabetic subjects. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, comparative study using periodontal case notes of 40 subjects (20 Type 2 diabetics, 20 non-diabetics) who were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Severity of periodontal disease was assessed through number of periodontal pocket ≥5mm. The results were compared between subjects whose age, gender and plaque scores are matched with the test group. Data obtained was then analyzed by SPSS Version 12. Results: When comparisons were made between test (Type 2 diabetic) and control (non-diabetic) groups, there were no significant difference (p>0.05) in the severity of periodontal disease. However, there was a clinically mean difference between the two groups. Conclusions: This preliminary investigation indicated that the severity of chronic periodontitis, as indicated in periodontal pocketing, increased in diabetic patients when compared to non-diabetics clinically, although it was not statistically significant. The finding of this investigation was thus not conclusive as it was only a retrospective study using patients’ case notes. However, the results are now being further investigated with a proper clinical trial which examines periodontal parameters and diabetic status (HbA1c) of the subjects to determine the association between periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus.