• Chintana Pokaratsiri
• Virat Pokaratsiri

Objective  The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the glycemic blood control and periodontitis in Thai patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM).

Materials and Methods  The 205 type 2 DM. patients were selected as subjects. They were followed up at least 2 times continuously and their dentate must be at least 6 index teeth (16, 21, 24, 36, 41, 44) for evaluation of periodontal status. After assessing metabolic control by the glycosylated hemoglobin measurements (HbA_1c), only 46 subjects were the controlled patients, therefore the data of another 46 uncontrolled patients were carefully selected to match them for comparison. The statistic analysis was done by SPSS/PC⁺ and the statistic significance was set up at p < 0.05.

Results  Data of the controlled and uncontrolled glycemic blood groups were analysed together by Pearson’s correlation and showed the significant correlation between mean of HbA_1c and mean of periodontal attachment loss (PAL) r = 0.3 p = 0.01 (p<0.05). When the relationship between the level of glycemic control and periodontal destruction (as indicated by number of patients having more than 10% tooth surface of PAL > 5 mm.) were analysed by Chi-square test, there was a significant relationship p = 0.012 (p<0.05) odds ratio = 3.96 (95% C.I. = 11.43, 1.37).

Conclusion  There is a relationship between the glycemic control and periodontitis in Thai patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the chance of developing to periodontitis in uncontrolled glycemic blood group is 4 times more than in controlled glycemic blood group.

(CU Dent J 2003;26:73-84)