Changing the Trajectories of Diabetes and Periodontitis

By Casey Hein, BSDH, MBA

Since Löe¹ suggested that periodontitis should be the sixth complication of diabetes in 1993, scientific literature has abounded with evidence of this interrelationship^2–43 and the unique role that oral health professionals play in diabetes screening.^44–46 Performing medical screening in dental settings began more than 50 years ago when assessing patients for hypertension became a standard of care. Given the magnitude of the diabetes epidemic, screening people at risk for diabetes or identifying people with undiagnosed diabetes should no longer be optional during routine dental visits. Further, the substantial evidence on the interrelationship between diabetes and periodontal diseases compels clinicians to consider how customizing the care of patients in four different risk categories may change the trajectory of diabetes and/or periodontal diseases in an individual’s life.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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