Relation of diabetes control to periodontal pocketing and alveolar bone level

The periodontal health status of 50 diabetic and 53 control subjects was examined. The diabetic group was further divided into three subgroups according to the control of diabetes. There were no significant differences between the whole diabetic group and the control group as regards the frequency of pockets and alveolar bone level. A comparison between the controls and the diabetic subgroups revealed that the well-controlled diabetic patients had better periodontal health than the controls. Within the diabetic group, the prevalence of pockets declined as the control of diabetes improved; the decrease in the number of pockets on bleeding surfaces and on surfaces containing subgingival calculus was statistically significant. Better periodontal health seems to be connected with good control of diabetes, indicating better resistance of periodontal connective tissue and alveolar bone.