Assessment of tooth loss in chronic periodontitis patients with and without diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Periodontitis refers to infectious disease affecting both hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. The disease is modified by a variety of risk factors such as tobacco smoking, poor oral hygiene, systemic diseases, hereditary, malnutrition.  The relation between diabetes and periodontitis is bidirectional. Diabetes increases the risk of periodontal disease progression resulting in early tooth loss. The aim of this study was to assess tooth loss in chronic periodontitis patients with and without diabetes. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 chronic periodontitis patients (200 in each group; Group 1: Diabetes; Group 2: Non-diabetes) reported to Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai. Based on the clinical examination data, all missing teeth except third molars were recorded in both groups. In group 1; among 200 diabetic patients, 1002 missing teeth were observed and in group 2; among 200 non-diabetic individuals, 638 missing teeth were observed. Also, the correlation between the systemic health status of the patients and the number of missing teeth was assessed. It was found to be statistically significant with the p-value of 0.00. The present study suggests that the prevalence of tooth loss was high among chronic periodontitis patients with diabetes (1002 missing teeth) compared to chronic periodontitis patients without diabetes (638 missing teeth)