Abstract
Purpose: Diabetes and periodontal disease are conditions considered to be biologically linked. Prediabetes is a condition in which individuals have blood glucose levels, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Few human studies address the relationship between periodontitis and prediabetes or clarify an association between periodontitis and prediabetes. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the impact of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on clinical measures of glycemic control in prediabetes.
Methods: Prediabetes measures of IFG, IGT, A1C and periodontal measures of pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were taken at baseline and 3 months in 12 subjects with prediabetes and chronic slight to moderate periodontitis. Blood samples were taken from each subject following an 8 hour fast. This study controlled for changes in medications, body-mass index, physical activity and diet.
Results: Comparison of mean prediabetes and periodontal measures from baseline and post-treatment at 3 months demonstrated clinical improvement for both periodontal and prediabetes measures. A mean reduction in PD of 0.27 (p=0.003), CAL of 0.32 (p=0.050) and A1C of 0.19 (p=0.015) reached statistical significance.
Conclusion: This pilot study suggests NSPT improves A1C and periodontal measures at 3 months. The robustness of measures is limited due to the small sample size and lack of a control group. Further larger scale studies using a randomized control design would be informative.
- diabetes mellitus
- prediabetes
- impaired fasting glucose
- impaired glucose tolerance
- glycated hemoglobin
- A1C
Footnotes
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Lori Giblin, RDH, MS, is an Assistant Professor, Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene MCPHS University. Linda Boyd, RDH, RD, EdD, is Dean of the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene MCPHS University. Lori Rainchuso RDH, MS, is an Assistant Professor, Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene MCPHS University. Dianne Smallidge, RDH, BS, MDH, is an Assistant Professor, Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene MCPHS University.
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This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Clinical Dental Hygiene Care: Investigate the links between oral and systemic health.
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This project won 1st place in the ADHA Sigma Phi Alpha Journalism Award Competition, June 2013, under the master or doctoral level category. Award provided by a generous grant from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products, Division of McNEIL PPC, Inc.
- Copyright © 2014 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association