Periodontal disease and diabetes metabolic control: a full-mouth disinfection approach.

Some studies demonstrated that local mechanical periodontal treatment and systemic antibiotics might improve the level of metabolic control in patients with diabetes. The aim of this clinical pilot trial was to evaluate if type 1 diabetes patients with periodontitis will experience improvement in periodontal status and glycemic control after a full-mouth disinfection treatment. Ten adult patients with poor metabolic control (mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) = 10.7 %) and periodontitis were included in the study. All patients received a full-mouth disinfection in 24 hours as described by Quirynen et al. (1995) at baseline and 6 months later. The periodontal parameters included plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing, probing depth and clinical attachment loss. Metabolic control was measured by the serum level of HbA1c. All measurements were done at baseline and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. The results demonstrated a significantly lower PI, less bleeding on probing, reduction in probing depth and gain of clinical attachment at 3 months and 9 months of the study. Similarly, a significant reduction in the serum level of HbA1c was measured three months after full-mouth disinfection but disappeared 6 months later at the 6- and 12-month check points. We conclude that a full-mouth disinfection approach significantly improves periodontal status and metabolic control in type 1 diabetes patients with periodontitis. However, the results of our study imply that a full-mouth disinfection method has to be applied at least every 3 months to control periodontal status and glycemic control in type 1 diabetes patients. Further studies with greater numbers of diabetes patients are needed to confirm the long-term beneficial effects of a full-mouth disinfection approach on diabetic metabolic control.

Periodontal treatment by Arestin and its effects on glycemic control in type 1 diabetes patients.

Studies indicate that a dual pathway between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease exists. Elimination of periodontal infection by using systemic antibiotics in conjunction with scaling and root planing (SRP) improved metabolic control in diabetic patients, as defined by reduction in glycated haemoglobin or reduction in insulin requirements (Grossi and Genco, 1998). The aim of this randomised pilot clinical trial was to determine if type 1 diabetes patients with periodontitis will experience a reduction in HbA1c levels when treated with locally delivered minocycline microspheres (Arestin) as an adjunct to scaling and root planing. Twenty adult patients with poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c 7.5%) and adult periodontitis, as determined by the presence of four teeth with 5 mm periodontal pockets, two of which had 6-9 mm pockets and bleeding on probing, were included in the study. All patients received full mouth SRP at baseline. Arestin was administered to all pockets > or => or = 5 mm at baseline and again at 12 weeks in the test group. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and HbA1c were evaluated at baseline and at weeks 6, 12, 18 and 24. The results demonstrated that local administration of Arestin as an adjunct to scaling and root planing is significantly more effective in reducing probing depths and providing a gain in clinical attachment levels than scaling and root planing alone in type 1 diabetic patients. Hb1Ac was reduced in all patients; however the difference between the test and control groups was not significant.