Periodontitis and diabetes: a two-way relationship

Abstract

Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease characterised by destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth (the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone). It is highly prevalent (severe periodontitis affects 10–15% of adults) and has multiple negative impacts on quality of life. Epidemiological data confirm that diabetes is a major risk factor for periodontitis; susceptibility to periodontitis is increased by approximately threefold in people with diabetes. There is a clear relationship between degree of hyperglycaemia and severity of periodontitis. The mechanisms that underpin the links between these two conditions are not completely understood, but involve aspects of immune functioning, neutrophil activity, and cytokine biology. There is emerging evidence to support the existence of a two-way relationship between diabetes and periodontitis, with diabetes increasing the risk for periodontitis, and periodontal inflammation negatively affecting glycaemic control. Incidences of macroalbuminuria and end-stage renal disease are increased twofold and threefold, respectively, in diabetic individuals who also have severe periodontitis compared to diabetic individuals without severe periodontitis. Furthermore, the risk of cardiorenal mortality (ischaemic heart disease and diabetic nephropathy combined) is three times higher in diabetic people with severe periodontitis than in diabetic people without severe periodontitis. Treatment of periodontitis is associated with HbA_1c reductions of approximately 0.4%. Oral and periodontal health should be promoted as integral components of diabetes management.

The two-way relationship between diabetes and periodontitis

What is periodontitis?

Periodontal diseases are collectively the most common diseases known to mankind. Their classification is complex and takes into account the clinical presentation, age at diagnosis, rate of disease progression, and systemic and local factors that may increase risk. Periodontal diseases include gingivitis (in which the inflammation is confined to the gingiva, and is reversible with good oral hygiene) and periodontitis (in which the inflammation extends and results in tissue destruction and alveolar bone resorption). Tissue destruction in periodontitis results in breakdown of the collagen fibres of the periodontal ligament, resulting in the formation of a periodontal pocket between the gingiva and the tooth. ‘Pocketing’ is not evident on simple visual inspection, and assessment using a periodontal probe is essential. Periodontitis is a slowly progressing disease but the tissue destruction that occurs is largely irreversible. In the early stages, the condition is typically asymptomatic; it is not usually painful, and many patients are unaware until the condition has progressed enough to result in tooth mobility. The pockets deepen as a result of the further destruction of fibres of the periodontal ligament (referred to as attachment loss; Fig. 1) and the resorption of the alveolar bone that occurs in parallel with the progressing attachment loss. Advanced periodontitis is characterised by gingival erythema and oedema, gingival bleeding, gingival recession, tooth mobility, drifting of teeth, suppuration from periodontal pockets, and tooth loss.

Fig. 1.

Diagram of periodontal pocket in a patient with periodontitis. The pocket is the space between the root surface and the gingiva. In healthy gums, the base of the pocket is coincident with the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ, the boundary between the enamel crown and the root) and there is no attachment loss. In periodontitis, the base of the pocket migrates apically (i.e. away from the enamel crown towards the root tip), thereby creating a pocket. The base of the pocket is therefore apical to the CEJ, and attachment loss can be measured (in mm, using a periodontal probe) from the CEJ to the base of the pocket. Pocket depth (also called probing depth) is measured in mm from the top of the pocket (i.e. from the gingival margin) to the base of the pocket. In this example, the pocket depth might be 6 mm, with 4 mm loss of attachment (as indicated in this example, pocket depth is usually greater than attachment loss due to the inflammation-induced swelling of the gingiva). The direction of insertion of a periodontal probe is indicated

The condition is very common, with severe periodontitis that threatens tooth retention affecting 10–15% of adults in most populations studied [1–3]. Moderate periodontitis is even more common, affecting 40–60% of adults. Periodontitis is therefore a highly prevalent, but largely hidden, chronic inflammatory disease. Furthermore, it has negative and profound impacts on many aspects of daily living and quality of life, affecting confidence, social interactions and food choices [4]. Smoking is a major risk factor; it significantly increases risk for periodontitis and severity of the condition [5, 6]. Other risk factors for periodontal diseases include diabetes, conditions associated with compromised immune responses (e.g. HIV), nutritional defects, osteoporosis, medications that cause drug induced gingival overgrowth (e.g. some calcium channel blockers, phenytoin, ciclosporin), genetic factors (as yet poorly defined), and local factors (e.g. anatomical deficiencies in the alveolar bone) [5].

Associations between diabetes and periodontitis

Diabetes has been unequivocally confirmed as a major risk factor for periodontitis [7–9]. The risk of periodontitis is increased by approximately threefold in diabetic individuals compared with non-diabetic individuals [10]. The level of glycaemic control is of key importance in determining increased risk. For example, in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III, adults with an HbA_1c level of >9% had a significantly higher prevalence of severe periodontitis than those without diabetes (OR 2.90; 95% CI 1.40, 6.03) after controlling for age, ethnicity, education, sex and smoking [11]. The importance of diabetes as a major risk factor for periodontitis became apparent in the 1990s in a number of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies investigating the Pima Indian population. The prevalence and incidence of periodontitis were greater in Pima Indians who had type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with those who did not [12, 13], with an approximately threefold increased risk for periodontitis [14]. The majority of research has focused on type 2 diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for periodontitis, probably because both diseases have historically tended to develop in patients in their 40s and 50s. However, type 1 diabetes mellitus also increases the risk of periodontitis, and all patients with diabetes (including children and young adults) should be considered to be at increased risk of periodontitis. One early study identified that around 10% of children (<18 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus had increased attachment loss and bone loss compared with controls, despite comparable plaque scores [15]. More recently, in a study of 350 diabetic children (6–18 years old) vs 350 non-diabetic controls, the proportion of periodontal sites with evidence of periodontitis was greater in the children with diabetes (>20% vs 8% of sites, respectively) [16].

Dentists have long been aware of the importance of a diagnosis of diabetes in their patients, and various oral conditions are associated with diabetes, including xerostomia and candidal infections as well as periodontitis. In the early 1990s periodontitis was sometimes referred to as the ‘sixth complication of diabetes’ [17], and in 2003 the ADA acknowledged that periodontal disease is often found in people with diabetes [18]. The clinical and radiographic appearance of periodontitis is shown in Figs 2 and 3.

Fig. 2.

Periodontitis (clinical appearance) in a 22-year-old man with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes and severe periodontitis. Note the generalised inflammation, abnormal gingival anatomy owing to tissue destruction, gingival recession, swelling and inflammation, spontaneous bleeding and abundant plaque deposits. The periodontal tissues around the lower incisors are particularly severely affected

Fig. 3.

Periodontitis (radiographic appearance). a A 42-year-old man with type 2 diabetes and generalised severe periodontitis. There is extensive alveolar bone loss (generally 50–75% of the root length) affecting the entire dentition, with an irregular (uneven) pattern of bone loss. Some of the teeth have lost nearly all their supporting alveolar bone as a result of periodontitis progression, e.g. the upper molars (both right and left), and the four lower incisors, all of which are grossly mobile and which are retained in the oral cavity only by the soft tissue attachment (having lost 100% of their bone support). b A 21-year-old man with no periodontitis. Alveolar bone levels are normal, with the crest of the alveolar bone being in close proximity to the cemento-enamel junction (the boundary between the enamel crown and the root). Contrast with appearance in Fig. 3a

Associations between obesity and periodontitis

Other lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical activity and diet are also likely to affect the risk of periodontitis. One of the first studies to show an effect of obesity on periodontitis identified that obese rats with periodontitis had more alveolar bone loss compared with non-obese rats [19]. Adiposity can be regarded as a systemic disease that predisposes individuals to a variety of comorbidities and complications, and a number of studies have reported associations between obesity and periodontitis [20]. Analysis of NHANES III data identified that individuals with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m² had a significantly increased risk of periodontitis compared with individuals with a BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m² [21]. This relationship was potentially mediated by insulin resistance since, among those with a BMI of ≥27 kg/m², those who were in the highest quartile for insulin resistance had a significantly increased risk of severe periodontitis compared with those in the lowest quartile [22]. A recent meta-analysis revealed a significant association between periodontitis and obesity (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.23, 1.47), and concluded that a higher prevalence of periodontitis should be expected among obese adults [23].

These findings raise the question of whether increased physical activity can reduce periodontitis risk. In the US Health Professionals Follow-up Study of 39,467 health professionals, an inverse linear relationship was identified between sustained physical activity and periodontitis, independent of known risk factors [24]. Another analysis of NHANES III data revealed that adults with higher levels of physical activity had significantly lower risk of periodontitis, with associations being strongest in non-smokers (but no association in smokers, suggesting that the harmful effects of smoking outweighed any benefit of physical activity) [25]. These various studies, while interesting, are limited in that they are generally cross-sectional/observational, and the temporal sequence of events is not clear (i.e. whether obesity precedes periodontitis). Prospective cohort studies are required to evaluate this area further.

Impact of periodontitis on diabetes

There has recently been much emphasis on the ‘two-way’ relationship between diabetes and periodontitis [26]. That is, not only is diabetes a risk factor for periodontitis, but periodontitis could have a negative effect on glycaemic control. The first clear evidence to support this hypothesis came from investigations of individuals in the Gila River Indian community. Severe periodontitis at baseline was associated with an increased risk of poor glycaemic control (HbA_1c > 9.0%) at follow-up (minimum 2 years), suggesting that severe periodontitis was a risk factor for compromised diabetes management [27]. In addition, various studies have reported that the prevalence and severity of non-oral diabetes-related complications, including retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, proteinuria and cardiovascular complications, are correlated with the severity of periodontitis [28–31].

Further studies of the Gila River Indian Community investigated the effect of periodontitis on the development of overt nephropathy, defined as macroalbuminuria and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), in type 2 diabetes mellitus [32]. Periodontal status was assessed in 529 individuals aged ≥25 years old who had type 2 diabetes mellitus, a glomerular filtration rate of ≥60 ml min⁻¹ 1.73 m⁻², and no macroalbuminuria (urinary albumin:creatinine ratio ≥300 mg/g). A total of 193 individuals developed macroalbuminuria (over a median follow-up of 9.4 years) and 68 developed ESRD (over a median follow-up of 14.9 years). After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes duration, BMI and smoking, the incidences of macroalbuminuria were 2.0, 2.1 and 2.6 times as high in those with moderate periodontitis, severe periodontitis, or who were edentulous, respectively, compared with those with no/mild periodontitis (p < 0.05). The incidences of ESRD were 2.3, 3.5 and 4.9 times as high for those with moderate or severe periodontitis or who were edentulous, respectively (p < 0.05). Thus, moderate and severe periodontitis and edentulousness predicted the development of overt nephropathy and ESRD in a ‘dose-dependent’ manner in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and little or no pre-existing kidney disease [32].

The same researchers also investigated the effect of periodontitis on deaths from cardiovascular disease and diabetic nephropathy. In a prospective longitudinal study of 628 Pima Indians aged ≥35 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus (median follow-up 11 years, during which 204 participants died), age- and sex-adjusted death rates (deaths per 1,000 person-years) were 3.7 for those with no or mild periodontitis, 19.6 for moderate periodontitis and 28.4 for severe periodontitis. Periodontitis was a predictor of deaths from ischaemic heart disease (p = 0.04) and diabetic nephropathy (p < 0.01). After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes duration, HbA_1c, macroalbuminuria, BMI, cholesterol, hypertension, electrocardiogram abnormalities and smoking, diabetic individuals with severe periodontitis had 3.2 times the risk (95% CI 1.1, 9.3) of cardiorenal mortality (ischaemic heart disease and diabetic nephropathy combined) compared with the reference group (no/mild periodontitis and moderate periodontitis combined) [33].

Acknowledging that the above studies were conducted in a specific, defined population, more recent research has investigated the impact of oral disease on subsequent cardiovascular disease in a general population of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus [34]. A total of 10,958 participants responded to two questions about the presence of oral disease (the number of natural teeth in their mouth, and the approximate number of days their gums had bled in the previous year) [35]; a lower number of remaining natural teeth and higher number of bleeding days were taken as indicators of poorer oral health. Despite the relatively crude oral health measures that were ascertained, age-, sex- and treatment allocation-adjusted analyses revealed that the group with no teeth were at almost twice the risk of death from all causes relative to those with ≥22 teeth; people with 1–21 teeth had an intermediate risk. The authors of the paper postulated that inflammation resulting from poor oral health may have been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease.

An intriguing area of recent investigation has focused on whether periodontitis plays a role in the incidence of diabetes. In a 7 year prospective study of 5,848 non-diabetic individuals aged 30–59 years, the effect of periodontitis on diabetes incidence (defined as fasting plasma glucose >6.9 mmol/l, equivalent to >125 mg/dl) was assessed [36]. In unadjusted analyses, moderate (pockets 3.5–5.5 mm) and severe (pockets >5.5 mm) periodontitis were significantly associated with an increased risk of diabetes incidence, but significance was lost after adjusting for sex, smoking, BMI, triacylglycerol, hypertension, HDL-cholesterol, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase.

The impact of periodontitis on changes in HbA_1c was assessed in a prospective 5 year study of 2,973 non-diabetic individuals [37]. Those participants with the most advanced periodontitis at baseline demonstrated an approximately fivefold greater absolute increase in HbA_1c over the 5 years of the study compared with those with no periodontitis at baseline (change in HbA_1c 0.106 ± 0.03% vs 0.023 ± 0.02%). This was the first study to report that periodontitis predicts the progression of HbA_1c among diabetes-free individuals and it is continuing to identify whether these subclinical changes in HbA_1c may translate into an increased risk of incident diabetes at 10 years.

What are the pathogenic mechanisms linking diabetes and periodontitis?

Periodontitis is a complex chronic inflammatory disease in which inflammation in the periodontal tissues is stimulated by the long-term presence of the subgingival biofilm (dental plaque). The inflammatory response is characterised by dysregulated secretion of host-derived mediators of inflammation and tissue breakdown. The most extensively studied include IL-1β, IL-6, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), TNF-α, receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; particularly MMP-8, MMP-9 and MMP-13), as well as T cell regulatory cytokines (e.g. IL-12, IL-18) and the chemokines [38]. The complexity of cytokine networks in periodontal pathogenesis is becoming increasingly apparent, and it is clear that there is considerable heterogeneity in the nature of the inflammatory response between individuals. This heterogeneity exists not only between individuals, but also within individuals over time, and is influenced by genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. The sum total of the inflammatory response in the periodontal tissues determines the pattern and rate of disease progression [39].

Inflammation is a central feature of the pathogenesis of diabetes and periodontitis

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus are associated with elevated levels of systemic markers of inflammation [40]. The elevated inflammatory state in diabetes contributes to both microvascular and macrovascular complications, and it is clear that hyperglycaemia can result in the activation of pathways that increase inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis [41]. Elevated serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α have been demonstrated in diabetes and obesity [40], and serum levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to predict future occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus [42]. Elevated levels of CRP are also associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease [43]. TNF-α and IL-6 are the main inducers of acute-phase proteins, including CRP, and both have been shown to impair intracellular insulin signalling, potentially contributing to insulin resistance [44, 45]. Serum levels of IL-6 and CRP are also raised in patients with periodontitis, with IL-6 levels correlating with the extent of disease [46, 47]. The systemic inflammation that is associated with periodontal disease may therefore enhance the diabetic state. Adipokines may also contribute to susceptibility to both periodontitis and diabetes, and the proinflammatory properties of leptin may be particularly important in upregulating periodontal inflammation in people who are obese and/or have type 2 diabetes mellitus [48].

Diabetes increases inflammation in the periodontal tissues. For example, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF; a fluid exudate that flows from the gingival margins) levels of PGE₂ and IL-1β are higher in type 1 diabetic patients with either gingivitis or periodontitis compared with those in non-diabetic individuals with the same level of periodontal disease [49]. In a study of type 2 diabetic patients, those with HbA_1c >8% had a significantly higher GCF IL-1β level compared with patients with HbA_1c <8%, and both HbA_1c and random glucose were independent predictors of an elevated GCF IL-1β level [50].

When challenged with lipopolysaccharide, monocytes from type 1 diabetic patients produce significantly greater concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and PGE₂ than monocytes from non-diabetic individuals [49, 51]. Furthermore, studies have consistently demonstrated defects in polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) activity in patients with diabetes, including impaired chemotaxis, phagocytosis and microbicidal functions [52]. PMNs require energy to function and these defects may be related to the metabolic changes that occur in diabetes [53]. Diabetic patients with severe periodontitis have been shown to have depressed PMN chemotaxis compared with diabetic individuals with mild periodontitis [54], as well as defective PMN apoptosis [55], which may lead to increased retention of PMNs in the periodontal tissue, leading to more tissue destruction by continued release of MMPs and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Diabetes prolongs the inflammatory response to Porphyromonas gingivalis (a periodontal pathogen commonly found in the biofilm of patients with advanced periodontitis), with increased production of TNF-α [56]. Periodontal treatment has been shown to reduce serum levels of inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, TNF-α, CRP and MMPs, in patients with and without diabetes [47, 57–60]

Accumulation of AGEs in the periodontal tissues is also likely to play a role in upregulating periodontal inflammation in individuals with diabetes. Binding of AGE to its receptor (RAGE) results in the upregulated production of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 [61]. AGE formation results in the production of ROS and enhances oxidant stress, and the subsequent endothelial cell changes that occur contribute to the vascular injury implicated in many diabetes complications [62]. AGEs also enhance the respiratory burst in PMNs [63], which has the potential to significantly increase local tissue damage in periodontitis. Furthermore, AGEs have detrimental effects on bone metabolism, leading to impaired repair and bone formation [64] and decreased extracellular matrix production [65]. Apoptosis may also play a role in the increased susceptibility to periodontitis associated with diabetes, and apoptosis of matrix-producing cells may limit the opportunities for repair in inflamed tissues. Induction of tissue injury by inoculation with P. gingivalis resulted in significantly higher fibroblast apoptosis in diabetic mice compared with non-diabetic mice [66], indicating another mechanism by which diabetes can interfere with the capacity for repair in inflamed periodontal tissues. The various inflammatory pathways postulated to link diabetes and periodontitis are illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4.

Schematic representation of the proposed two-way relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. Exacerbated and dysregulated inflammatory responses are at the heart of the proposed two-way interaction between diabetes and periodontitis (purple box), and the hyperglycaemic state results in various proinflammatory effects that impact on multiple body systems, including the periodontal tissues. Adipokines produced by adipose tissue include proinflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL-6 and leptin. The hyperglycaemic state results in deposition of AGEs in the periodontal tissues (as well as elsewhere in the body), and binding of the receptor for AGE (RAGE) results in local cytokine release and altered inflammatory responses. Neutrophil function is also altered in the diabetic state, resulting in enhancement of the respiratory burst and delayed apoptosis (leading to increased periodontal tissue destruction). Local production of cytokines in the periodontal tissues may, in turn, affect glycaemic control through systemic exposure and an impact on insulin signalling (dotted arrow). All of these factors combine to contribute to dysregulated inflammatory responses that develop in the periodontal tissues in response to the chronic challenge by bacteria in the subgingival biofilm, and which are further exacerbated by smoking

Is there a relationship between the oral microbiota and diabetes?

Compared with the large number of studies that have investigated the role of inflammatory mechanisms in the link between periodontitis and diabetes, relatively few have investigated relationships between the oral microbiota and diabetes. In one study, recovery of several periodontal pathogens, including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Campylobacter rectus, Capnocytophaga spp, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia, was similar in both diabetic and non-diabetic participants, but significantly more individuals with diabetes harboured P. gingivalis [67]. Similarly, in a study of young Japanese individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus, a greater proportion of participants with periodontitis harboured P. gingivalis and P. intermedia than those who were periodontally healthy [68]. These studies indicate that there are probably subtle differences in the microbial composition of the subgingival biofilm between individuals with diabetes and those without, but the clinical relevance of this is not clear. Such differences may arise from the effect of diabetes in altering the local environment within the periodontal pocket such that the growth of certain bacterial species is favoured.

The contribution of oral bacteria to adiposity has also been assessed. In a study of 313 women with BMI of 27–32 kg/m² (compared with 232 healthy individuals), 98.4% of the overweight women could be identified by the presence of the periodontal pathogen Selenomonas noxia at levels >1.05% of the total bacterial population [69]. S. noxia >1.05% had a sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 80% of predicting obesity, leading to the interesting question of whether oral bacteria are involved in the pathology that leads to obesity. The tenets of ‘infectobesity’ suggest that the gut microbiota of obese individuals may be more efficient at extracting energy from a given diet than that of lean individuals [70, 71], and gut microorganisms can affect host metabolism, influencing inflammation and insulin resistance [72]. The role of swallowed periodontal bacteria in contributing to these effects has yet to be established, but it is clear from animal studies that influencing the intestinal microbiota (for example, through the use of prebiotics, specific nutrients, or natural antibiotics) could potentially change satiety and insulin resistance and be of benefit in the management of diabetes [73, 74].

Periodontal treatment is associated with improved glycaemic control

Several meta-analyses have confirmed that effective periodontal therapy can result in reduced HbA_1c. The first reported on ten interventional studies with a combined population of 456 patients; the authors identified a weighted mean reduction in HbA_1c of 0.66% as a result of periodontal therapy (though this failed to achieve statistical significance) [75]. In 2008, a meta-analysis of nine studies involving 485 patients reported a significant reduction of HbA_1c of 0.46% following periodontal treatment [76]. In 2010, a meta-analysis of five studies involving 371 patients also reported a significant weighted mean reduction in HbA_1c of 0.40% over a follow-up period of 3–9 months after periodontal therapy [77]. The authors of these meta-analyses all commented on the heterogeneity of the data, different methodologies having being used in the different studies. Most recently, the Cochrane Collaboration has reported on studies that investigated the relationship between periodontal treatment and glycaemic control in people with diabetes [78]. Three studies were included in this meta-analysis which reported a significant reduction in HbA_1c of 0.40% 3–4 months after conventional periodontal therapy (Fig. 5). The findings of these meta-analyses are supported a recent population-based study of over 5,000 individuals with diabetes [79] reporting that patients who received at least one episode of periodontal surgery (an intense form of periodontal treatment, not routinely undertaken in all patients with periodontitis) had HbA_1c levels that were 0.25% lower than patients who did not undergo periodontal surgery [80–82].

Fig. 5.

Forest plot to indicate outcome of periodontitis treatment on HbA_1c levels after 3–4 months. The effect for the mean percentage difference as a result of periodontal treatment was −0.40% (95% CI 0.78%, −0.01%), n = 244, representing a statistically significant reduction in HbA_1c (p = 0.04) as a result of the periodontal treatment. IV, inverse variance (from Simpson TC, Needleman I, Wild SH, Moles DR, Mills EJ Treatment of periodontal disease for glycaemic control in people with diabetes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2010, Issue 5. Copyright Cochrane Collaboration, reproduced with permission)

Taken collectively, the evidence supports the notion that improvements in metabolic control can be anticipated following effective treatment of periodontitis (although there are few studies available, and some studies lack power). The mechanisms by which this occurs are not yet clear, but probably relate to reduced systemic inflammation (e.g. reduced serum levels of mediators such as TNF-α and IL-6) following the treatment and resolution of periodontal inflammation. Larger randomised trials are warranted to investigate this further. These observations are important because reductions in HbA_1c are associated with a reduced risk of diabetes complications. For example, each 1% reduction in HbA_1c has been associated with reductions in risk of 21% for any endpoint related to diabetes, 21% for deaths related to diabetes, 14% for myocardial infarction and 37% for microvascular complications [83].

The healthcare implications of the link between diabetes and periodontitis

In 2000, the US Surgeon General referred to a ‘silent epidemic’ of oral and dental diseases, and stressed the importance of oral health as being essential for general health and well-being [84]. In 2007, the WHO Executive Board acknowledged the intrinsic link between oral health, general health and quality of life [85]. A recent editorial in The Lancet stated that ‘oral health is a neglected area of global health’ and indicated that promoting and improving oral health should be part of the routine business of healthcare policymakers and clinicians [86]. Because poor oral health primarily affects morbidity rather than mortality, policymakers and governments have unfortunately tended to view oral diseases as less important than more life-threatening diseases. However, oral diseases are highly prevalent and are associated with significant morbidity: dental caries is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, severe periodontitis typically affects up to 15% of most adult populations, oral cancer is the eighth most common cancer worldwide, and approximately half of people who are HIV positive have oral fungal, bacterial or viral infections [86].

The management of diabetes is complex and the prevention of cardiovascular and microvascular disease, through early detection and management of complications, are key components. Lifestyle intervention, education, self-management and self-monitoring are particularly important, in addition to treatments to reduce blood glucose, blood pressure and lipids [87]. Similar to diabetes, current treatment philosophies for periodontitis strongly emphasise self-management through patient education. A supportive and facilitative approach by the dental team is essential, but there must be a clear understanding that patient-performed plaque control is the vehicle by which to control the inflammation which drives periodontal tissue destruction. Structured education programmes are effective in the management of diabetes [88–90], and similar programmes are being developed for the management of periodontitis [91, 92]. These education programmes all emphasise the importance of engaging with the patient and ensuring that patients develop self-efficacy in managing their disease as the means to effect the lifelong behavioural changes that are required for the successful management of both conditions. The importance of self-efficacy in the control of diabetes and oral hygiene has been demonstrated in a population of diabetic individuals in Finland. Those individuals with better tooth-brushing self-efficacy had lower plaque scores (as might be expected) and lower HbA_1c levels compared with those who had poorer self-efficacy [93]. Furthermore, diabetic participants who managed their gingivitis successfully also tended to report better glycaemic control and had lower mean HbA_1c levels (8.1 ± 1.5%) compared with participants who did not manage their gingivitis effectively (9.0 ± 1.9%) [94]. These studies suggest that there are common determinants for both dental and diabetes self-care that could be exploited for improved management of both conditions.

There is, therefore, a cogent argument for involving the dental team in the management of diabetes. Indeed, the dental team is well placed to screen patients for diabetes by virtue of the fact that many people visit their dentist regularly (e.g. every 6 months, often more frequently than they visit their medical practitioner), and the intra-oral findings may raise suspicion of undiagnosed diabetes. The dental team (particularly dental hygienists) are very adept and experienced in instituting behavioural changes in their patients, and may represent an untapped source of support for medical colleagues in this role.

Conclusions

Epidemiological studies confirm that diabetes is a significant risk factor for periodontitis, and the risk of periodontitis is greater if glycaemic control is poor; people with poorly controlled diabetes (who are also most at risk for the other macrovascular and microvascular complications) are at an increased risk of periodontitis and alveolar bone loss [5, 95]. Given the predicted increases in the prevalence of diabetes over the next few decades, we will probably see a reversal of the hitherto experienced reductions in the prevalence of periodontitis (associated with less smoking and better oral healthcare behaviours over recent years) as a result of large increases in the number of people with diabetes [96]. Controlling diabetes (i.e. improving glycaemic control) is likely to reduce the risk and severity of periodontitis. Furthermore, evidence suggests that resolution of periodontal inflammation can improve metabolic control (with reported HbA_1c reductions of approximately 0.4%), though large, multi-centre, randomised controlled trials are needed to further validate these findings.

Abbreviations

CRP

C-reactive protein

ESRD

End-stage renal disease

GCF

Gingival crevicular fluid

INVEST

Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study

MMP

Matrix metalloproteinase

NHANES

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

PGE

Prostaglandin E

PMN

Polymorphonuclear leucocyte

ROS

Reactive oxygen species