ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect and mechanism of periodontal initial therapy on type 2 diabetes patients with periodontitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>15 type 2 diabetes patients with periodontitis were selected. Their body mass index (BMI), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing depth (PD), circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentration, and the value of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol (CHOL) were assessed respectively before and 4-6 weeks after periodontal initial therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After initial therapy, SBI, PD, circulating TNF-alpha concentration, and the value of HbA1C and TG were reduced significantly (P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in BMI and CHOL value (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Periodontal initial therapy can effectively reduce HbA1C value in type 2 diabetes patients with periodontitis, possibly through the reduction of circulating TNF-alpha concentration.</p>