RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the periodontal status of the family members of type 2 diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 167 subjects in 43 families of type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study (71 male, 96 female; mean age: 49.2). Periodontal index including probing depth (PD), plaque index (PLI), bleeding index (BI), attachment loss (AL) and the numbers of tooth loss were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ninety-seven diabetic patients all have periodontitis, 50 mild, 24 moderate and 23 severe periodontitis. Of 48 non-diabetic patients, there are 5 gingivitis, 30 mild, 11 moderate and 2 severe periodontitis. There is statistically significant difference in the incidence of gingivitis mild moderate and severe periodontitis between diabetic and non-diabetic patients (chi(2) = 17.96, P < 0.05). The periodontal index PD, AL and numbers of tooth loss in diabetes family members were significantly higher than those of non-diabetes family members (P < 0.05). The clinical parameters were not different between well-controlled family member and non-diabetes family member.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Periodontal destruction of diabetes members was more severe than that of non-diabetes members. Diabetes mellitus may be a risk factor for periodontitis.</p>
