Periodontal status among patients with diabetes in Nuuk, Greenland

Diabetes is becoming more common in the Greenlandic population. Patients with diabetes are more prone to periodontal disease. Periodontal status may have an effect on metabolic control.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of periodontitis amongst patients with diabetes in Nuuk, Greenland, and secondly, to observe if dental care was associated with improved periodontal status and metabolic control.

Observational cross-sectional study and a pilot study of a dental care intervention.

Sixty-two Greenlandic patients with diabetes were included in the study. Data were collected from the Electronic Medical Records (EMR), in addition to a telephone interview. Patients were offered 3 dental examinations with a 3-month interval. The dental examinations consisted of a full-mouth assessment of number of remaining teeth and assessment of periodontal status. Patients received scaling and root planing, together with information and instructions on oral hygiene. Information on glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1C)) values was collected from the EMR at each dental examination.

In this study, 21.0% (13/62) of patients with diabetes had periodontitis. About 42% had less than 20 teeth. The association between diabetes and periodontitis was known by 20 out of the 62 patients. Over half of the patients had been to a dental examination within the last year. The prevalence of periodontitis decreased significantly from 21.0 to 0% (p<0.001) after 3 dental examinations. No change in HbA(1C) levels was observed (p=0.440).

Periodontitis was common among patients with diabetes in Nuuk. Dental health status based on Periodontal Screening Index (PSI) and bleeding on probing (BOP) seemed to improve after dental health care, indicating a need for increased awareness among patients and health care professionals. HbA(1C) levels were not improved among the patients.