The Relationship Diabetes have with Periodontal Disease
Introduction
Studies performed show that diabetic people have high chances of having periodontal diseases compared to non-diabetic people. The reason behind this is that diabetic people are more exposed to risks of contracting infections (Perry & Beemsterboer, 2007). Some researchers claim that periodontal disease complicates diabetes. The relationship between the two diseases is said to be two-ways. When people with diabetes have periodontal disease, it becomes very difficult for such people to regulate their level of blood sugar. Also important to note, severe periodontal disease has been associated with increased blood sugar as well as increasing time the body with high blood sugar performs (Perry & Beemsterboer, 2007). This exposes diabetic people to high risks of having diabetic complications. Periodontitis is an example of a chronic inflammatory infection. It destructs structures that support the teeth, including the alveolar bone together with the periodontal ligament. Approximately 15% of adults are affected by severe periodontitis (Preshaw, Alba, et al., 2012). This negatively affects their quality of life in multiple ways. According to epidemiological data, the greatest risk factor for periodontitis is diabetes. As such, this paper explores the relationship diabetes have with periodontal disease.
What periodontal disease entails
Periodontal diseases are widely recognized to humankind. They have a complex classification that includes the clinical presentation, the rate at which the disease progresses, stage of diagnosis, together with factors likely to increase the risk of the diseases (Weinberg, Theile, et al., 2015). Furthermore, periodontal diseases are composed of gingivitis which can be reserved with proper oral hygiene alongside periodontitis that causes tissue destruction as well as desorption of alveolar bone. When it comes to periodontitis, tissue destruction damages collagen fibres located in the periodontal ligament. This forms a hole in between the tooth and gingiva. Periodontitis progresses slowly. However, it causes irreversible tissue destruction. During its early stages, periodontitis is usually asymptomatic (Preshaw, Alba, et al., 2012). During this stage, the patient experiences no pain and is may be unaware of the condition before it progresses and causes tooth mobility. Advanced periodontitis has features such as gingival bleeding, tooth mobility, gingival erythema, tooth drifting, suppuration, and even tooth loss.
Periodontitis is considered a common condition. Its severity threatens tooth retention. Majority of populations studies show that the condition affects approximately 15% of adults (Casanova, Hughes, & Preshaw, 2014). Besides, moderate periodontitis is more common than severe periodontitis. It affects about 50% of adults (Casanova, Hughes, & Preshaw, 2014). Therefore, periodontitis is a highly prevalent disease. However, this disease is a chronic inflammatory infection that is much hidden. It is essential to understand that periodontitis negatively affects different aspects of an individual’s life as well as the quality of life. It affects an individual’s confidence, selection of food, and even social interactions.
Additionally, there are various key risk factors that increase periodontitis risk together with its severity. One of these risk factors in smoking (Perry & Beemsterboer, 2007). Other risk factors associated with periodontal diseases are diabetes, HIV, medications that facilitate gingival overgrowth, osteoporosis, genetic factors, and nutritional defects.
Diabetes and Periodontal diseases
Research conducted confirmed that diabetes is the primary contributing factor to periodontal diseases. When it comes to periodontitis, its risk increased three times in diabetic people more than non-diabetic ones (Weinberg, Theile, et al., 2015). Glycaemic control level helps to determine the increased risk. A survey conducted revealed that adults with diabetes were highly exposed to severe periodontitis compared to non-diabetic people. This was after controlling other factors like smoking, age, and education. Diabetes as a key risk factor leading to periodontitis was confirmed through various cross-sectional as well as longitudinal studies done on Pima Indian population (Weinberg, Theile, et al., 2015). The risk of the disease was higher among Pima Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus non-diabetic Pima Indians. Most of the researches studies on type 2 diabetes mellitus and how it relates to increasing periodontitis risk. The reason for doing this was because the two diseases are most common in people aged between 40 and 50 years (Perry & Beemsterboer, 2007). Type 1 diabetes mellitus is also associated with increasing periodontitis risk. Children and young adults with diabetes increase risks of periodontitis. For a long time, dentists have known the essence of diabetes diagnosis in patients. They also know that there are certain oral conditions linked to diabetes. Some of these oral conditions include xerostomia and periodontitis (Casanova, Hughes, & Preshaw, 2014). Periodontitis complicates the condition of diabetes.
Obesity and Periodontal diseases
Apart from lifestyle factors such as diabetes, other factors increase the risk of periodontitis. These factors include obesity, diet, together with physical activities. A study conducted on the relationship between obesity and periodontitis found that obese rats suffering from periodontitis had issues such as alveolar bone unlike non-obese rats (Perry & Beemsterboer, 2007). Obesity and periodontitis are closely related. Obese adults are highly exposed to risks of periodontitis compared to obese youths. Another study was conducted to find if physical activities lower periodontitis risk. The study confirmed that adults with sustained physical activities reduce periodontitis risk (Preshaw, Alba, et al., 2012). The risk was lowest in non-smokers. However, there was no proof among smokers to show that smoking prevented the benefits of physical activities.
Conclusion
According to epidemiological studies demonstrate that diabetes is a great risk factor that results in periodontal diseases. Also, periodontitis risk is higher if a person has poor glycaemic control and poorly controlled diabetes. This kind of people have a high risk of contracting periodontitis as well as the loss of alveolar bone. In the next one or two decades, diabetes prevalence is expected to increase. This is expected to reduce the risk of periodontitis due to less smoking, together with proper oral healthcare practices. Controlling diabetes can significantly lead to a decline in periodontitis risk as well as its severity. Research also shows that improving metabolic control by engaging in physical activities can reduce the risk of periodontal diseases.
References
Casanova, L., Hughes, F. J., & Preshaw, P. M. (2014). Diabetes and periodontal disease: a two-way relationship. British dental journal, 217(8), 433.
Perry, D. A., & Beemsterboer, P. (2007). Periodontology for the dental hygienist (pp. 202-203). G. Essex (Ed.). Saunders Elsevier.
Preshaw, P. M., Alba, A. L., Herrera, D., Jepsen, S., Konstantinidis, A., Makrilakis, K., & Taylor, R. (2012). Periodontitis and diabetes: a two-way relationship. Diabetologia, 55(1), 21-31.
Weinberg, M. A., Theile, C. M. W., Froum, S. J., & Segelnick, S. L. (2015). Comprehensive periodontics for the dental hygienist (p. 504). Pearson.