Diabetes and Oral Health – A Review.

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2016-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Oral health is an integral component of the general health. There is increasing evidence to suggest that oral health and systemic health are interrelated to each other. Evidence indicates that diabetes mellitus has a major role in altering the oral environment. The oral manifestation is generally seen in uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetic patients due to reduction in defense mechanism and the increased susceptibility to infections. Both advanced periodontal disease and dental caries may lead to the loss of teeth. Xerostomia is also a common symptom in diabetics. Hypo salivation and changes in salivary composition may contribute to the increased susceptibility to oral infections, impaired wound healing and increased rate of dental caries in diabetics. Fungal infections are more common in type 1 and type 2 diabetics than in non-diabetics and the oral infections appear to be more severe in diabetics than in non-diabetics. Periodontal disease is considered as a sixth complication of diabetes mellitus. The other frequently encountered clinical signs are, gingival polyps, periodontitis, periodontal abscess, loosened teeth due to bone loss, delayed post surgical healing and striking enlargement and erythema of the attached gingiva. It is worth to review the available literature so that one can have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the oral manifestation related to diabetes mellitus which in turn will help dentists in taking necessary precautions, while delivering oral health care services for patients with diabetes mellitus.
Description
Keywords
Diabetes mellitus, Periodontal disease, Dental Caries
Citation
Gowdar Inderjit Murugendrappa, Almuhaiza Mohammed. Diabetes and Oral Health – A Review. Annals of International Medical and Dental Research. 2016 Mar-Apr; 2(2): 2-8.