Type 2 diabetes mellitus and oral health problems Cross-sectional study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Demonstrator at Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, British University, Cairo, Egypt. Master candidate at Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2 Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine and Periodontology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, British University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

In Egypt, diabetes mellitus is considered to be a foremost health issue with a major influence on the disease and the rate of death. Diabetes mellitus is a communal disorder having affiliated oral disorders that influence dental care. The purpose of this study was to study the prevalence of oral changes in diabetes type 2 in the Egyptian participants to raise awareness between diabetic patients and dental professionals.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study that was done on 200 patients who were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2 at Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic in Kasr Al Ainy, Cairo University Hospital over a period of 2 months from the first of September 2019 to the first of November 2019. Both genders were selected with age ranging from (32-60) . A detailed oral examination was performed in accordance with international criteria.
Results:
The most prevalent oral changes were caries (58%), periodontitis (56%), xerostomia (45%), taste dysfunction (32.5%), burning sensation (20%) and candida (15%).
Conclusions:
This study exhibited that diabetes has harmful influences on oral health status; hence, dentists must be acquainted with the related oral disorders in patients with diabetes as chronic oral complications in these patients could worsen their glucose level and their prognosis. The dentists could have a helpful role in spotting the undiagnosed diabetic patients from the associated oral manifestations.

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