Tissue Response Of Type 2 Diabetics Towards Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy: A Retrospective, Comparative Study With Non-Diabetics - A Preliminary Investigation

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the tissueresponse of Type 2 diabetic subjects towards non surgicalperiodontal therapy as compared with matched, nondiabeticsubjects. This was a retrospective, comparativestudy using periodontal case notes of 40 subjects attendingundergraduates’ periodontal clinics (20 diabetics, 20 nondiabetics),who were selected based on the inclusionand exclusion criteria. Response towards non surgicalperiodontal therapy was assessed through three clinicalperiodontal parameters, namely plaque score, gingivitisscore and number of periodontal pocket ≥5mm at thebaseline and after initial non surgical periodontal therapy.Data obtained was then analyzed by SPSS Version 12.Both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects showed significantimprovements (p-value = 0.021; 0.000; 0.001 and 0.010;0.014; 0.001) in all three parameters after the therapy.However, when comparison was made between the twogroups, there was no significant difference (p-value = 0.913;0.892 and 0.903) in any of the parameters. Periodontalconditions improved clinically in both diabetic and nondiabeticsubjects after non-surgical periodontal therapy.Therefore, both groups responded similarly towards thetherapy and thus it can be postulated that well-controlleddiabetic status does not have a significant effect on theoutcome of periodontal therapy.