Assessment of oral health status and practice among diabetic and nondiabetic participants

Patients with diabetes are diagnosed and managed through family practice. They are more likely to have more severe periodontal disease. Good oral hygiene can prevent oral health problems. This study explored and identified the status, practice, and prevalence of oral hygiene among patients with diabetes compared with nondiabetic patients.

A cross-sectional study of dental health care clinic patients was conducted using questionnaires and a validated oral examination tool, the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). Data were analyzed using SPSS software.

A total of 238 participants enrolled in the study (46.6%) had diabetes mellitus. The mean age of the participants was 40.01 ± 13.03 years. Diabetics' Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) mean was 2.72 ± 1.19, compared with 2.02 ± 1.08 in nondiabetics (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in OHI scores between males and females (P > 0.05). Simplified OHI score >3 was higher among diabetics than nondiabetics, with an age-adjusted rate of 32.41 per 1000 compared to 13.63 per 1000 and an odd ratio of 3.66, 95% CI (3.5 to 3.8) P < 0.0001. Oral disease symptoms, gum bleeding, swelling, and tooth mobility were reported among patients with diabetes (37.8%, 36%, and 30.6%, respectively). Oral hygiene practices were suboptimal in patients with diabetes compared to nondiabetics.

There is a high prevalence of poor oral hygiene among patients with diabetes compared to nondiabetics which calls for multidisciplinary diabetic care in family practice to ensure the optimal quality of care.