Oral Health and Dental Management

Abstract

Assessment of periodontal status and oral hygiene habits in a group of adults with type I diabetes mellitus

Doina Lucia Ghergic, Claudia Florina Andreescu, Catalina Grigore

Diabetes mellitus is identified as risk factor for periodontal disease. Personal and professional
plaque control is the most important factor for prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. The
aim of this study is to evaluate the importance of awareness of oral hygiene habits by filling in a
questionnaire, in contrast with the assessment of periodontal status by recording of Community
Periodontal Index (CPI) in a group of 50 adults with type I diabetes mellitus (formerly known as
insulin-dependent). The results reveal deficiencies in oral health behavior (no one uses instruments
for interdental cleaning) and high scores of CPI (code 0 = 0%, code 1 = 0%, code 2 = 24%, code 3 =
44%, code 4 = 32%). The majority of subjects (80%) did not receive information about dental care
and oral diseases and no one received information about the influence of gum disease and diabetes.
This study proves the need of promoting oral health in this risk group.