How does diabetes affect teeth and gums? Barranquilla

How does diabetes affect teeth and gums? Periodontist in Barranquilla explains

Dentistry

Author: Ana María Guerrero OrtizModified date: 21/07/2023

How does diabetes manifest itself in the mouth?

In the mouth, the main complication of diabetes manifests itself in the gums, causing periodontal disease in which progressive destruction of the tissues that support and support the teeth (bone and gum) occurs, although patients with diabetes may also have impaired wound healing, have dental problems (dental caries), tooth loss, the appearance of fungi in the oral cavity (candidiasis), coated tongue (white or yellowish coating on the tongue) or red, among other lesions in the mucosa and oral cavity in overall.

How does diabetes affect teeth?

Diabetes is a chronic disease which has multiple manifestations throughout the entire organism including the mouth, at the level of the teeth there is a greater probability of presenting dental caries since patients often present decreased salivary flow or Xerostomia, so it can favor the colonization of bacteria that cause dental caries.

How does diabetes affect the gums?

Gum disease is called gingival disease or periodontal disease (when it affects the gums and bone), this is the main complication of diabetes at the oral level. In diabetes, in the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the gingiva, an acute inflammatory response is awakened in which the ability to resolve inflammation and healing is altered, which accelerates the destruction of the periodontal supporting tissues. In other words, in diabetic patients various pro-inflammatory levels are elevated and there are also vascular changes, alteration in collagen metabolism and dysfunction of defense cells (polymorphonuclear cells and neutrophils), which causes bacteria to colonize more easily and there is an accelerated destruction of periodontal tissue (bone and gum).

How does gum disease affect diabetes?

Gum disease, called periodontal disease, impairs insulin signaling and resistance, negatively influencing glycemic control and therefore increasing the risk of developing diabetic complications.

Why should a person with diabetes go to a dentist specializing in periodontics?

Taking into account that periodontitis is the main complication of diabetes in the oral cavity, and that in order to be treated and controlled it must be properly diagnosed, the periodontist is the specialist in charge of maintaining healthy periodontal tissues, as well as knowing the protocol for managing patients with chronic diseases. He also knows about the bidirectional relationship between these two chronic diseases (periodontitis and diabetes) and knows that periodontal stability will lead to improved blood glucose levels and likewise better control of diabetes will favor repair and maintenance of periodontal tissues. For this reason, it is recommended that all patients with type I or type II diabetes mellitus attend an assessment with a periodontist to maintain periodontal stability and thus contribute to its metabolic control.

How many times a year should a diabetic see a periodontist?

It is recommended that the diabetic patient attend theperiodontist dentist at least every 4 months or depending on each case, every 6 months. Personally, I prefer to have more control over my diabetic patients and for this reason I have created a space for them called: "Diabetic Patient Program", in which I seek to have greater control of my diabetic patients.

What is the Diabetic Patient Program about?

With the Diabetic Patient Program I seek to stabilize and maintain healthy periodontal tissues of my patients. To be part of the program, the patient must already have a diagnosis that they are diabetic and commit to their oral care. The program includes: initial panoramic X-ray, periodontal and oral diagnosis, oral hygiene education session, awareness and modification of the individualized brushing technique, initial periodontal therapy, control 1 month later in which reinstrumentation is performed and it is evaluated whether or not the patient requires surgical periodontal therapy, 2 or 3 maintenance per year depending on each case. The annual cost is 650,000 COP (value does not include surgical periodontal therapy or periodontal surgery).