RESUMO
The number of children with diabetes mellitus is continually increasing and they are known to have some buccal disorders. It is important for the dentist to know the different signs and symptoms that diabetes can present in the oral cavity. Some epidemiological studies investigating the number of caries, absences and obturations found no differences in their frequency between patients with diabetes and the control group; however periodontal diseases are more frequent in diabetics. On the basis of literature, the influence of insulin-dependent diabetes on the oral health status was determined. The aim of this study was also to determine whether dental caries and periodontal disease were modified by the presence and duration of diabetes. The evaluation of oral problems in diabetics was done in relation to metabolic control and caries-associated risk factors.
