Effects of diabetes mellitus on periodontal and peri-implant conditions: update on associations and risks

Objectives: To review the evidence for the association between diabetes and periodontal and peri-implant conditions and the impact of periodontal therapy in subjects with diabetes.
Material and Methods: A search of MEDLINE-PubMed was performed up to and including December 2007. The search was limited to clinical studies published in English. Publications on animal studies were excluded. The selection criteria included all levels of available evidence.
Results: Evidence on the association between diabetes and periodontitis supports the concept of increased severity but not extent of periodontitis in subjects with poorly controlled diabetes. Subjects with controlled diabetes do not show an increase in extent and severity of periodontitis. Periodontitis is associated with poor glycaemic control and diabetes-related complications. It is inconclusive that periodontal therapy with or without the use of antibiotics results in improvements of glycaemic control and of markers of systemic inflammation. Evidence is lacking to indicate that implant therapy in subjects with diabetes yields long-term outcomes comparable with those of non-diabetic subjects.
Conclusions: Poorly controlled diabetes may be considered a risk factor for increased severity of periodontitis. The effects of periodontal therapy on glycaemic control and systemic inflammation is not proven beyond doubt and need to be confirmed in large-scale randomized-controlled clinical trials.     

Periodontal disease definition may determine the association between periodontitis and pregnancy outcomes

Aim: The aim of this secondary analysis is to explore whether the application of different definition criteria of periodontitis, used in other similar studies, has an influence on the significance of the association between periodontitis and prematurity or low birth weight. Material and Methods: Fourteen periodontitis definitions and more than 50 periodontal disease continuous measurements, found in 23 published studies, were applied to a cohort study that included 1296 pregnant women. The associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes were analysed using logistic regression analysis. Results: Six of the 14 tested definitions of periodontitis resulted in statistically significant adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for some of the adverse pregnancy outcomes, while no significance was found for the other eight case definitions. Out of more than 50 periodontal continuous measurements tested, only 17 demonstrated statistically significant ORs. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that the significance of the association between periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes may be determined by the periodontal disease definition or measurement used.     

Cardiovascular disease and periodontitis: an update on the associations and risk

Background: Associations between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases have been recognized.
Material and Methods: New literature since the last European Workshop on Periodontology has been reviewed.
Results: The lack of reliable epidemiological data on disease prevalence makes an assessment of the associations and risks between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases difficult. Two recent meta-analysis reports have identified associations between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases (odds ratios: 1.1–2.2). Different surrogate markers for both disease entities, including serum biomarkers, have been investigated. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation, and carotid intima media thickness have in some studies been linked to periodontitis. Studies are needed to confirm early results of improvements of such surrogate markers following periodontal therapy. While intensive periodontal therapy may enhance inflammatory responses and impair vascular functions, studies are needed to assess the outcome of periodontal therapies in subjects with confirmed cardiovascular conditions. Tooth eradication may also reduce the systemic inflammatory burden of individuals with severe periodontitis. The role of confounders remain unclear.
Conclusions: Periodontitis may contribute to cardiovascular disease and stroke in susceptible subjects. Properly powered longitudinal case–control and intervention trials are needed to identify how periodontitis and periodontal interventions may have an impact on cardiovascular diseases.     

Prevalence and distribution of principal periodontal pathogens worldwide

Background: Detailed genetic analysis of bacteria has demonstrated an unanticipated genetic diversity within species, which often reveals evolutionary lineages that are disproportionately associated with infection. There is evidence that some evolutionary lineages of bacteria have adapted to particular ethnic groups.
Aim: This review analyzes to what extent observed differences in periodontal disease prevalence among ethnically or geographically distinct populations may be explained by restricted host adaptation of clones of principal periodontal pathogens.
Results: Carriage rates of several putative periodontal pathogens and particular subsets of these species vary between ethnic groups. Few of these differences can, with the limited information available, be directly related to differences in periodontal disease prevalence. Asian populations are regularly colonized with Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotype c with questionable pathogenic potential. Conversely, the JP2 clone of A. actinomycetemcomitans has enhanced virulence and causes significantly higher prevalence of aggressive periodontitis in adolescents whose descent can be traced back to the Mediterranean and Western parts of Africa. Some genetically distinct types of Porphyromonas gingivalis are more associated with disease than others, but additional work is required to relate this to clinical differences.
Conclusions: Studies that take into account differences linked to the genetics of both patients and potential pathogens are likely to give better insight into the aetiology of periodontal diseases.     

Change in periodontitis during pregnancy and the risk of pre-term birth and low birthweight

Aim: Determine whether periodontitis progression during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes.
Methods: We used clinical data and birth outcomes from the Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy Study, in which randomly selected women received periodontal treatment before 21 weeks of gestation ( N =413) or after delivery (410). Birth outcomes were available for 812 women and follow-up periodontal data for 722, including 75 whose pregnancies ended <37 weeks. Periodontitis progression was defined as 3 mm loss of clinical attachment. Birth outcomes were compared between non-progressing and progressing groups using the log rank and t tests, separately in all women and in untreated controls.
Results: The distribution of gestational age at the end of pregnancy ( p >0.1) and mean birthweight (3295 versus 3184 g, p =0.11) did not differ significantly between women with and without disease progression. Gestational age and birthweight were not associated with change from baseline in percentage of tooth sites with bleeding on probing or between those who did versus did not progress according to a published definition of disease progression ( p >0.05).
Conclusions: In these women with periodontitis and within this study's limitations, disease progression was not associated with an increased risk for delivering a pre-term or a low birthweight infant.     

Periodontitis and risk for atherosclerosis: an update on intervention trials

Aims: Periodontitis has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. The nature of the association is unclear because both periodontitis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share a host of risk factors. Intervention trials are critical to explore the relationship. If the association were causal, successful periodontal therapy will lead to an attenuation of the effect – CVD.
Material and Methods: The paper reviewed the design and the results of intervention trials aimed at improving systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, carotid atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.
Results: Early systematic reviews and a definitive controlled clinical trial indicate that intensive periodontal therapy results in a decrease in systemic inflammation and an improvement of endothelial dysfunction in systemically healthy subjects. A pilot trial has indicated the feasibility to assess the impact of periodontal therapy on carotid atherosclerosis in a primary cardiac prevention design.
Conclusions: Efforts to test causality in the relationship between periodontitis and CVD are ongoing. Evidence to date is consistent with the notion that severe generalized periodontitis causes systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Periodontitis has effects that go beyond the oral cavity and its treatment and prevention may contribute to the prevention of atherosclerosis.     

牙周炎与不良妊娠结局相关关系的研究进展

牙周炎是由牙周致病菌感染引起的慢性炎症性疾病,在妊娠妇女中更容易发生。不良妊娠结局是新生儿围产期死亡的重要原因,受机体全身炎症的影响。该文主要对牙周炎与不良妊娠结局的相关性进行阐述,进一步从阴道感染、菌血症、免疫炎症和肠道菌群方面对其机制进行探讨,并简述了牙周炎与不良妊娠结局共有的宿主易感性遗传背景,以期为临床上预防妊娠期牙周病和不良妊娠结局提供一定的理论指导。     

The relationship between maternal periodontitis, adverse pregnancy outcome and miscarriage in never smokers

BACKGROUND: It has been postulated that associations between periodontal disease and systemic conditions may be because of the confounding effects of smoking. In addition, studies of this type rarely investigate the adverse pregnancy outcome of miscarriage. AIM: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate a relationship between periodontal disease in pregnancy and subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes in a population of never smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnant women were recruited at 12 weeks gestation. Demographic, behavioural and medical data were collected. A periodontal examination was performed and data on each subjects' pregnancy outcome were collected. RESULTS: A total of 1793 women reported never previously smoking. Of these, 7.3% had a pre-term birth and 0.9% a late miscarriage. As expected in this population, we found no associations between poorer periodontal health and either pre-term birth or low birth weight (LBW). In contrast, the subjects who experienced a late miscarriage had a higher mean probing depth at mesial sites compared with the subjects that gave birth at term (2.69 mm versus 2.41 mm, p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: There was an association between some measures of periodontal disease and late miscarriage; however, there was no association between periodontitis and pre-term birth or LBW in this population.     

Detection of herpetic viruses in gingival crevicular fluid of patients suffering from periodontal diseases: prevalence and effect of treatment

Background/Aim:  Although the role of bacteria in the etiology of periodontitis is well established, it has been suggested that herpetic viruses could contribute to the initiation and progression of this disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples obtained from periodontally healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis patients. In addition, the effect of periodontal treatment (scaling and root planing) on the persistence of herpetic viruses was evaluated in a sub-group of patients suffering from chronic periodontitis.
Methods:  The presence of viruses in GCF samples was assessed by a nested PCR amplification technique. The persistence of viruses in periodontal sites was evaluated following a scaling and root planing therapy.
Results:  A statistically significant higher prevalence of HCMV was observed in periodontitis patients as compared to healthy control subjects (35 vs. 8%, respectively; P  = 0.0377). A trend for a higher prevalence of HSV was also noted in the periodontitis group, in comparison with healthy control subjects. In addition, a higher prevalence of HCMV was associated with deep periodontal pockets in subjects suffering from periodontitis. In the sub-group of periodontitis patients, periodontal therapy resulted in the elimination (HCMV and EBV) or reduction (HSV) of the herpetic viruses.
Conclusions:  This study showed that the prevalence of HCMV and HSV viruses in GCF is higher in patients suffering from periodontitis compared to periodontally healthy subjects, and that the prevalence of HCMV is higher in deep periodontal pockets. It also brought evidences that periodontal therapy may be associated with virus elimination in diseased sites.     

Viruses in periodontal disease - a review

The purpose of this review was to evaluate the evidence supporting the hypothesis that viral infection plays a role in the development of periodontitis. An involvement in periodontal diseases has been suspected specifically for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes viruses. An association has been demonstrated between HIV infection and some distinct forms of periodontal infection, i.e. necrotizing lesions. Furthermore, reports of increased prevalence and severity of chronic periodontitis in HIV-positive subjects suggests that HIV infection predispose to chronic periodontitis. Several studies, most of them from the same research group, have demonstrated an association of herpesviruses with periodontal disease. Viral DNA have been detected in gingival tissue, gingival cervicular fluid (GCF) and subgingival plaque from periodontaly diseased sites. In addition markers of herpesviral activation have been demonstrated in the GCF from periodontal lesions. Active human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication in periodontal sites may suggest that HCMV re-activation triggers periodontal disease activity. Concerns regarding sampling, methods and interpretation cast doubts on the role of viruses as causes of periodontal disease.     

Atherogenic lipoprotein parameters in patients with aggressive periodontitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Certain types of chronic infection increase the plasma level of very-low-density lipoprotein, leading to formation of the particularly atherogenic low-density lipoprotein subclass, small dense low-density lipoprotein. In the present study, we examined whether aggressive forms of periodontitis are associated with these atherogenic lipoprotein parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve healthy control subjects without periodontitis, 12 subjects with localized aggressive periodontitis and 12 subjects with generalized aggressive periodontitis were studied. Lipoprotein subclass levels were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance methodology. RESULTS: Healthy control subjects, localized aggressive periodontitis subjects and generalized aggressive periodontitis subjects had progressively higher plasma levels of very-low-density lipoprotein and progressively smaller average low-density lipoprotein size (p < 0.05, one-way analysis of variance). In pairwise comparisons, differences were only significant between healthy controls and generalized aggressive periodontitis subjects (p < 0.05, Tukey's post test). After adjustment for body mass index, the mean periodontal pocket depth correlated positively with plasma very-low-density lipoprotein levels (p = 0.047). Very-low-density lipoprotein concentrations correlated positively with small dense low-density lipoprotein levels and negatively with average low-density lipoprotein size. Prevalence of the atherogenic lipoprotein pattern-B in healthy controls, localized aggressive periodontitis subjects and generalized aggressive periodontitis subjects was 8.3%, 33.3% and 66.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that periodontal infection is associated with elevated plasma levels of atherogenic lipoprotein species. This association may account for the increased risk of periodontitis patients for cardiovascular disease.     

Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy Hypertension: A Clinical Correlation

Background: Periodontal disease is thought to be associated with increased risk of systemic diseases and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including pregnancy hypertension (PH). The aim of the present study is to find the prevalence of periodontal disease in females with PH in a rural‐based medical institute. Methods: The present case control study was performed with 200 females, 100 with PH and 100 without PH. Antenatal periodontal screening was performed within 72 hours of their hospital admission for delivery. The periodontal parameters assessed were oral hygiene index–simplified, gingival index, mean probing depth, and loss of attachment. Results: Prevalence of periodontal disease was 65.5% and was significantly higher (P <0.0001) in females with hypertension (relative risk = 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3 to 1.9). Socioeconomic status, education, occupation, and body mass index did not appear to influence the relationship between periodontal disease and PH on bivariate multiple logistic regression analysis. Nulliparous females were at higher odds to develop periodontal disease and PH (odds ratio = 1.7; 95% CI = 0.5 to 6.1). As the severity of periodontal disease increased from moderate to severe, the severity of hypertension also increased (r² = 0.8 and 0.5 for moderate and severe periodontal disease, respectively). Conclusion: Periodontal disease is more prevalent in females with PH.     

Serum IgG reactivity to subgingival bacteria in initial periodontitis, gingivitis and healthy subjects

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Established periodontal diseases may be associated with antibody responses to periodontal pathogens, but it is not known at which stage of disease this antibody response is initiated. This study aimed to characterize the host systemic response in initial periodontitis, gingivitis, and periodontal health, to evaluate whether elevated serum antibodies to subgingival species could be detected in initial periodontitis. METHOD: Human systemic immune response were evaluated to 40 subgingival bacterial species in 16 healthy, 21 gingivitis, 11 initial periodontitis and 5 progressing recession adults. Subjects had minimal periodontal attachment level (AL) loss at baseline. Disease categories were determined after 12 months monitoring at three-month intervals. Increased AL loss > or = 1.5 mm (disease activity) at interproximal sites defined initial periodontitis, recession was characterized by AL loss at buccal sites. Serum IgG antibodies were evaluated semi-quantitatively by immunoblot from blood taken at baseline, active and final visits. RESULTS: No antibody was detected from 55% of reactions. When detected, levels were below those reported for advanced periodontitis subjects. There were no major differences in serum antibody levels between healthy, gingivitis and initial periodontitis subjects, despite differences in the subgingival microbiota. Serum antibodies for more species were detected in recession subjects, compared with the other study subjects. No changes in antibody levels were detected between baseline, active, and final visits. No systematic association between species colonization and presence of systemic antibody was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not detect differential elevation of mean serum antibody levels in initial periodontitis subjects, suggesting that serum antibody levels are not sensitive risk markers for initial periodontitis.     

Oral health and adverse pregnancy outcomes - what's next?

Studies on the link between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcome have gone through several phases. The epidemiological studies predominantly support a positive association between these wide-affecting diseases. During the intervention phase, a few small-scale, single-center studies reported improvement of birth outcome following periodontal treatment, whereas the large-scale multi-center studies did not demonstrate efficacy. Many questions arise with regard to patient population, disease type, and therapy. In addressing these questions, it is crucial that one understands the mechanism underlying the link between these diseases. Two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses exist. In the first, periodontal disease is believed to affect the maternal and fetal immune responses systemically, leading to premature labor. Alternatively, evidence is accumulating that oral bacteria may translocate directly into the pregnant uterus, causing localized inflammation and adverse pregnancy outcome in the presence or absence of clinical periodontitis. The oral-uterine transmission is not limited to the well-recognized periodontal pathogens, but instead may also involve the commensal species. Future studies should investigate these mechanisms, to understand the host susceptibility to oral-uterine transmission. Only when a thorough understanding of the mechanism is achieved can meaningful intervention studies be designed utilizing effective therapies, targeting appropriate populations, and measuring relevant outcomes.     

Prevalence and molecular diversity of Archaea in subgingival pockets of periodontitis patients

Introduction:  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and molecular diversity of Archaea in the subgingival crevices of patients with chronic periodontitis.
Methods:  Subgingival plaque was collected from 41 patients with chronic periodontitis and 15 healthy subjects. The prevalence of Archaea in those plaque samples was tested by polymerase chain reaction with two broad-range archaeal primer sets. Amplicons from eight Archaea -positive plaque samples were cloned and sequenced for molecular diversity analysis using one of these two primer sets and a novel third primer set.
Results:  Archaea were detected in the subgingival plaque of patients with chronic periodontitis at a prevalence of 70.7–73.2%, but were not detected in healthy subjects. Using one primer set, all sequences of the archaeal amplicons were identified as Methanobrevibacter oralis -like species. With another primer set, the amplicons were also found to be identical to the uncultured M. oralis -like species except one phylotype was found to belong to the class Thermoplasmata .
Conclusion:  Archaea might be correlated with periodontal diseases. The diversity of Archaea associated with periodontitis was limited. Almost all sequenced amplicons fell into the genus Methanobrevibacter of the Euryarcheota phylum. M. oralis -like species was the predominant but non-exclusive archaeon in the subgingival dental plaque of patients with periodontitis.     

Periodontitis prevalence and severity in Indonesians with type 2 diabetes

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) in Indonesia is high and still rising. Periodontitis is associated with DM2. No study has investigated this association in Indonesia, nor has any study investigated this association using a variety of methods to operationalize periodontitis. The present study compares prevalence and severity of periodontitis in patients with DM2 to healthy controls, using different methods to operationalize periodontitis. Methods: A total of 78 subjects with DM2 and 65 healthy control subjects underwent a full‐mouth periodontal screening assessing probing depth, gingival recession, plaque index, and bleeding on probing. Using these measurements, the prevalence and severity of periodontitis was operationalized in various ways. Differences in the prevalence and severity of periodontitis between subjects with DM2 and healthy subjects were analyzed using univariate analyses. In regression analyses, the prevalence and severity of periodontitis were predicted on the basis of DM2 presence, controlling for confounders and effect modification. Results: Prevalence of periodontitis was significantly higher in subjects with DM2 compared to healthy subjects, showing odds ratios of 5.0 and 6.1. Likewise, periodontitis severity was significantly higher in subjects with DM2. Conclusion: Indonesian subjects with DM2 had more prevalent and more severe periodontitis than healthy Indonesian subjects, independent of confounding factors or the methods used to operationalize periodontitis.     

Periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Periodontal diseases are considered not only to affect tooth-supporting tissues but also to have a cause-and-effect relationship with various systemic diseases and conditions, such as adverse pregnancy outcomes. Mechanistic studies provide strong evidence that periodontal pathogens can translocate from infected periodontium to the feto-placental unit and initiate a metastatic infection. However, the extent and mechanisms by which metastatic inflammation and injury contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes still remain unclear. The presence of oral bacteria in the placenta of women with term gestation further complicates our understanding of the biology behind the role of periodontal pathogens in pregnancy outcomes. Epidemiological studies demonstrate many methodological inconsistencies and flaws that render comparisons difficult and conclusions insecure. Therefore, despite the fact that a number of prospective studies show a positive association between periodontal diseases and various adverse pregnancy outcomes, the evidence behind it is still weak. Future well-designed explanatory studies are necessary to verify this relationship and, if present, determine its magnitude. The majority of high-quality randomized controlled trials reveal that nonsurgical periodontal therapy during the second trimester of gestation does not improve pregnancy outcomes. From a biological standpoint, this can be partially explained by the fact that therapy rendered at the fourth to sixth months of pregnancy is too late to prevent placental colonization by periodontal pathogens and consequently incapable of affecting pathogen-induced injury at the feto-placental unit. Thus, interventions during the preconception period may be more meaningful. With the increase in our understanding on the potential association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is clear that dental practitioners should provide periodontal treatment to pregnant women that is safe for both the mother and the unborn child. Although there is not enough evidence that the anti-infective therapy alters pregnancy outcomes, it improves health-promoting behavior and periodontal condition, which in turn advance general health and risk factor control.     

Has the prevalence of periodontitis changed during the last 30 years?

Aim: This paper reviews global trends in the change in prevalence of periodontitis over the last 30 years.
Material and Methods: The epidemiology of periodontal disease is briefly reviewed together with the current classification system and the clinical and radiographic diagnostic methodology in periodontal disease.
Results: This review identifies the very limited number of studies that provide prevalence data over time, and this data is discussed in comparison with those stemming from a few corresponding studies from countries outside Europe.
Conclusions: The data indicate a possible trend of a lower prevalence of periodontitis in recent years.     

Association among rheumatoid arthritis, oral hygiene, and periodontitis

BACKGROUND: A limited number of studies suggest a higher prevalence of periodontal disease among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, results have been inconsistent. Further, it is unclear to what extent poor oral hygiene among patients with RA may account for this association. METHODS: The association between RA and periodontitis was examined in 57 subjects with RA and 52 healthy controls, matched by age and gender. Oral examination included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Potential risk factors for periodontal disease, such as smoking, education, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI), as well as chronic diseases associated with RA and periodontal disease were assessed through questionnaires. RESULTS: In a stepwise logistic regression, including RA status, age, gender, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, and BMI, only RA status and age remained significant predictors of periodontal disease. Subjects with RA had a significant 8.05-fold increased odds (95% confidence interval: 2.93 to 22.09) of periodontitis compared to controls. The strength of the association was attenuated but remained statistically significant after further adjustment for PI, GI, or both. PI alone accounted for 12.4%, GI alone accounted for 11.1%, and PI and GI combined accounted for 13.4% of the association between RA and periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with RA have significantly increased periodontal attachment loss compared to controls. Oral hygiene may only partially account for this association.     

Studies on periodontitis and analyses of individuals at risk for periodontal diseases

Periodontal disease is an infectious disease initiated by microbial plaque, which accumulates on the tooth surface at the gingival margin and induces an inflammatory reaction. The function of the inflammatory process is to protect the host, however the process may also contribute to tissue destruction. Most individuals show gingival inflammation, but only a limited number suffer from periodontitis i.e. loss of attachment. Without treatment, periodontitis will result in tooth mobility and subsequent tooth mortality. Independent of ethnicity, 10%-15% of an adult population will develop severe periodontitis The aim of this thesis has been to analyse individuals at risk for periodontal disease. Four studies have been conducted in 2 different groups of individuals with: Recurrent periodontitis kept in a maintenance care program--studies I-III. Type 2 diabetes (T2D)--study IV. In study I, the clinicaleffect of local periodontitis treatment with an antibiotic gel was investigated. In study II, the microbiologicaleffect of periodontitis treatment with the same antibiotic gel as in study I was investigated. In study III, it was investigated whether the interleukin-l (IL-1alpha and beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility of chronic periodontitis. In study IV, the prevalence of periodontitis in individuals with T2D was investigated, together with the prevalence of diabetic complications in relation to periodontal disease. We also studied whether there was a difference in dental care habits and knowledge of oral health between T2D subjects with and without periodontal disease. In conclusion, this thesis did not find any significant clinical and microbiological differences between subjects with recurrent periodontal disease treated with a locally delivered metronidazole gel compared to a placebo gel. Neither could we find an association between genetic variants in the IL-lalpha, IL-beta and IL-6 genes in individuals with or without periodontal disease. The prevalence of severe periodontitis, according to radiographic criteria, was almost 20% in subjects with T2D. This was further confirmed by clinical parameters. T2D individuals with periodontal disease demonstrated a higher HbAlc level, a higher prevalence of cardiovascular complications and a higher proportion of smokers compared to periodontally healthy T2D subjects. Finally, T2D individuals seem to lack sufficient knowledge about oral health.