Dentistry

Abstract

A Study of the Relationship between Diabetes Mellitus and Tooth Loss among Diabetic Patents in Garki General Hospital Garki Abuja, Fct Nigeria

Nathan U Ikimi, Modupeore E Sorunke, Olubunmi O Onigbinde, Johnson O Adetoye, Irene Amrore and Olanrewaju O Jacob

Study background: This research is to assess the number of missing teeth and to examine the relationship between age and tooth-loss in diabetic patients.

Methods: The study consisted of 201 diabetic patients and an equal number of non-diabetic patients as control. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed which contained close-ended questions and this was followed by an oral examination of each patient; number of missing teeth were recorded in a data collecting sheet. Data was evaluated using SPSS 20 version.

Results: Respondents were within age-group 30-73years for diabetics and 32-68years for non-diabetics. The mean number of missing teeth in diabetics was 5.22 ± 0.73 while non-diabetics had 3.17 ± 0.53 which was statistically significant when p-value was ≤ 0.005. Diabetic patients, within the age-group of 35-44 had 3.21 mean missing teeth and those within the age-group of 64-75 years had 7.31 mean missing teeth.

Conclusion: The mean number of missing teeth in the diabetic patient and the control increased gradually as patients grew older but tooth loss was more pronounced in the diabetics. The result here agrees with results in other parts of Nigeria and worldwide. Within the limitations of this study, tooth loss is more in diabetic patients than nondiabetics and increases more in diabetics as both groups grow older.