CPITN assessment of periodontal disease in diabetic patients

The aim of this study was to investigate, using the CPITN system, the periodontal treatment needs in diabetic patients, and to shed additional light on the possible effects of the duration and control of diabetes on the periodontal status in these patients. A comparison was made between 222 diabetic patients (mean age, 46.9 years) and 189 control subjects (mean age, 43.9 years). Edentulous patients were not included in the study. The results indicated that diabetic patients demonstrated significantly more missing teeth (P less than 0.001). The mean number of missing sextants was also significantly higher in diabetics. Pathologic pockets of 6 mm or more were found in 1.3 and 0.3 sextants in the diabetic and control group subjects, respectively (P less than 0.001). Up to the age of 34, no differences were observed between the diabetic and control group subjects regarding pathologic pockets of 6 mm or more. Above this age, diabetics demonstrated significantly more sextants with deep pockets (P less than 0.001). Concerning the type of diabetes, no differences related to CPITN score were found between insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent diabetics. Neither were any differences found in the periodontal condition related to the duration and control of diabetes, whereas diabetics with advanced retinopathy demonstrated more sextants with deep pockets. Oral hygiene instructions and scaling were required in all patients from both study groups. On an average, 1.3 sextants in 50.9% of diabetics and 0.3 sextants in 17.9% of control subjects required complex treatment.