A comparative study of oral health status in diabetic and non-diabetic patients

Objective This study compares the prevalence and awareness of oral features in diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Findings A total of 111 (84.09%) diabetics had features associated with diabetes mellitus; male: female ratio was 1.05:1. Prevalent oral features were periodontitis 81 (61.36%), xerostomia 48 (36.36%) and halitosis 46 (34.85%). Candidiasis was only seen in 10 (7.58%) patients. Diabetic neuropathy was seen in 60.6% of cases as xerostomia, hypo-salivation and burning mouth. Prevalence of oral features of diabetes mellitus increased with duration of diabetes mellitus. Majority of patients with oral lesions were above the 5th decade of life. Only 13(11.7%) of the patients with oral features of diabetes mellitus had average fasting blood glucose within the normal range. Significant oral features of diabetes mellitus found in control cases were hyposalivation (χ2 = 49.531, df=1, p A total of 105 cases (79.5%) and 95 (72.0%) control subjects were unaware that diabetes mellitus has oral manifestations, 19 cases (14.3%) and 33 (25%) controls were able to name at least one oral feature of diabetes. Cases having higher awareness (>3 oral features) had significantly better mean glucose level. Awareness was unrelated to educational level of cases but directly related to education of controls. Conclusion There was significant difference in oral features among diabetics compared to control and features were directly proportional to glycemic as diabetics with poor glycemic control showed more oral features than those that attained euglycemic status. Overall, there was low awareness of oral features of diabetes amongst study cohort which was worse amongst diabetics compared to control.