Periodontal Therapy For the Diabetic Patient

By Harold Packman, DMD

DR. Harold Packman - Periodontics & Dental Implants

. http://www.packmanperio.com/

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Periodontal Therapy For the Diabetic Patient

Prevention, early diagnosis and consequent treatment of periodontal disese may have a major impact on the control of diabetes. Research suggests that not only does diabetes influence the progress of periodontal disease, but active periodontal disease also influences the diabetic state.

The systemic inflammatory response generated by inflamed periodontal tissue aggravates insulin resistance and increases blood sugar, thus creating a vicious cycle of diabetes and periodontitis exacerbating each other and putting diabetic patients at increased risk for diabetic complications.

People with diabetes are more than twice as likely to have periodontal disease then people without diabetes because diabetics are more susceptible to contracting infections.

This may be due to numerous physiological phenomenon seen in diabetes, such as impaired immune resistance, vascular changes, altered microflora, and abnormal collagen metabolism.

People with uncontrolled diabetes are especially at risk.

Aggressive management of oral health in diabetic patients may diminish the adverse inflammatory effects on diabetes control.

Several studies have reported that when periodontal infections were treated, the management of diabetes markedly improved. 

These studies suggest that the reduction of periodontal inflammation can be helpful in controlling blood glycemic levels and reducing insulin requirements.

For diabetics, periodontal disease therapy is a long-term venture, requiring some modifications of the customary periodontal treatment applied to non-diabetics.

Gum disease is something that must be treated, not just to save your teeth, but maybe to save your life.