ABSTRACT
The increased prevalence and severity of periodontitis seen in patients with diabetes, especially those with poor metabolic control, has led to the designation of periodontal disease as the “sixth complication of diabetes” and successful periodontal therapy in diabetic patients entails the stabilization of blood glucose to a normal range. Hence, present study evaluates whether the noninvasive method of testing gingival blood glucose, is a reliable tool for screening diabetes in chronic periodontitis patients. Methods: The study sample comprised of 75 patients with probing pocket depth of > 4mm and clinical attachment loss of >3mm. Under aseptic measures and proper isolation, after gently probing the gingival sulcus the blood was drawn onto the glucometer strip and the readings were recorded. At the same visit blood was also collected from the index finger onto the glucometer strip. The statistical methods applied were Student's t-test (unpaired) to compare mean values between the two groups and Pearson's correlation for Means and Standard Deviation of the different parameters were calculated. Results: There is a positive correlation between GCBG and CFBG with all the clinical parameters. Fasting blood glucose level is negatively associated with age, plaque index and clinical attachment level (r=0.083, r=0.22 and p=0.042, respectively) whereas Post prandial blood glucose level is negatively associated with age, plaque index and probing pocket depth (r=0.117, r=0.099 and r=0.06, respectively). CFBG is slightly positively correlated with age, plaque index and clinical attachment whereas GCBG is strongly associated with probing pocket depth. Conclusion: The gingival crevicular blood glucose levels also found a positive correlation with the fasting blood glucose levels and post prandial blood glucose levels, suggesting the use of gingival crevicular blood as a screening marker for diabetes. Also a correlation was found between the gingival crevicular blood glucose levels and the clinical parameters suggesting that the treatment of periodontal disease can be considered as an important factor, which can help in improvement of the blood glucose levels in periodontitis subjects.
ABSTRACT
Furcation involvement (FI) refers to the invasion of the bifurcation and trifurcation areas of multi-rooted teeth by periodontal disease. Diagnosis of FI by 2D radiographs can be overcome by the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging technique. Objective: To compare the measurements of furcation depth by clinical method and CBCT in assessing the FI. Methods: The present study comprised of 60 furcation involved mandibular molars from 45 patients suffering from Chronic Generalized Severe Periodontitis. Teeth having probing pocket depth of ≥6mm were considered for the study. Clinical measurements of furcation depth were made on buccal or lingual sides of mandibular molars by using endodontic file with stopper which was done by two clinicians. The CBCT measurements were performed by measuring the deepest vertical and horizontal furcation defects at each furcation entrance. These measurements were then recorded, compiled and statistically analysed. Results: The comparison of furcation involvement clinically by clinician 1 and CBCT measurements in buccal side was statistically significant (p=0.0255*), while it was statistically not significant (p=0.3696 NS) on lingual side. Similarly, the comparison of furcation involvement clinically by clinician 2 and CBCT measurements in buccal side was statistically significant (p=0.0278*), while it was statistically not significant (p=0.4951 NS) on lingual side. Conclusion: CBCT technique can be considered a reliable tool for detecting FI as CBCT imaging showed high accuracy and moderate reproducibility in the assessment of furcation depth.