ABSTRACT
Aim: A preliminary investigation to assess the relationshipin the severity of periodontal disease in diabetics whencompared with non-diabetic subjects. Materials andMethods: A retrospective, comparative study usingperiodontal case notes of 40 subjects (20 Type 2 diabetics,20 non-diabetics) who were selected based on theinclusion and exclusion criteria. Severity of periodontaldisease was assessed through number of periodontalpocket ≥5mm. The results were compared betweensubjects whose age, gender and plaque scores are matchedwith the test group. Data obtained was then analyzed bySPSS Version 12. Results: When comparisons were madebetween test (Type 2 diabetic) and control (non-diabetic)groups, there were no significant difference (p>0.05) inthe severity of periodontal disease. However, there wasa clinically mean difference between the two groups.Conclusions: This preliminary investigation indicatedthat the severity of chronic periodontitis, as indicated inperiodontal pocketing, increased in diabetic patients whencompared to non-diabetics clinically, although it was notstatistically significant. The finding of this investigationwas thus not conclusive as it was only a retrospectivestudy using patients’ case notes. However, the resultsare now being further investigated with a proper clinicaltrial which examines periodontal parameters and diabeticstatus (HbA1c) of the subjects to determine the associationbetween periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus.