Assessment of Periodontal Health Status and Its Association with Diabetes Mellitus among Adult Dental Patients

Abstract

Background: Periodontal disease is a common chronic inflammatory condition affecting the supporting structures of the teeth and has been increasingly associated with systemic disorders such as diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To assess periodontal health status and determine its association with diabetes mellitus among adult dental patients.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, from February 2022 to November 2024. A total of 165 adult dental patients were enrolled using consecutive non-probability sampling. Demographic and clinical data were recorded, and periodontal health was assessed using plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment loss. Participants were grouped as diabetic and non-diabetic, and periodontal disease severity was compared between the groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of participants was 45.8 ± 12.4 years, and 94 (57.0%) were male. Diabetes mellitus was present in 68 (41.2%) participants, while 97 (58.8%) were non-diabetic. Moderate-to-severe periodontitis was significantly more prevalent among diabetic individuals (76.5%) compared to non-diabetics (40.2%) (p < 0.001). Mean probing pocket depth was significantly higher in diabetic patients (4.8 ± 1.2 mm vs. 3.5 ± 1.0 mm, p < 0.001), as was clinical attachment loss (5.2 ± 1.4 mm vs. 3.8 ± 1.2 mm, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus is significantly associated with poorer periodontal health and increased severity of periodontitis among adult dental patients.