Research Information System
Akdeniz Diş Hekimliği Dergisi, vol.4, no.3, pp.176-182, 2025 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Objectives
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is associated with various oral complications. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and severity of dental caries in patients with T2DM compared to systemically healthy controls.
Material and Methods
This cross-sectional study included 100 participants (50 T2DM patients and 50 healthy controls) aged 35-65 years who applied to the Restorative Dentistry Clinic of Akdeniz University Faculty of Dentistry between 2019 and 2023 and were diagnosed with caries. The ages and genders of healthy individuals were matched with diabetic individuals to be the same for each patient. Dental caries was assessed using DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) index through panoramic radiography. The experimental part of the study was conducted by 2 experienced restorative dentistry specialists to ensure standardization. Panoramic radiographs were viewed on a computer screen in a dark room at x3.5 magnification. Before the evaluation, physicians were informed to read the criteria determined on the panoramic radiography in the same way, and then the evaluation was made by taking the common opinion of two experts. All teeth except third molars were included in the study. Statistical analysis was performed using 2-way ANOVA to evaluate the effects of group and gender on dental parameters, with a significance level set at P < 0.05.
Results
When patients with T2DM and non-diabetes were compared, the prevalence of ca-ries was found to be higher in patients with diabetes (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in the number of existing teeth in the mouth (p = 0.106) but not the number of restorations (p = 0.003). When comparing between groups, no significant difference was found based on gender and age.
Conclusion
Patients with T2DM demonstrate significantly higher dental caries prevalence and severity compared to healthy controls. These findings underscore the critical importance of implementing comprehensive preventive dental strategies and establishing integrated medical-dental care protocols for diabetic patients.