Periodontal Diseases and Diabetes

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Abstract
Inflammatory periodontal diseases are common in the United States. The incidence of gingivitis and periodontitis appears to be the same for persons with controlled diabetes as for those in the nondiabetic population. For patients with uncontrolled diabetes, however, periodontal diseases progress more rapidly than in their controlled counterparts. In addition, once a person with diabetes has periodontitis, the disease is usually more aggressive than in nondiabetic controls. These differences may be due to microangiopathy, altered polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis, increased dental plaque formation , or other causes. Patients with diabetes should be counseled to have a periodontal screening, which must include the use of a probe to measure the depth of the periodontal pockets. When problems are found, they should be treated and the patient should be placed in maintenance therapy.