Background: Both diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontal disease are the most widespread chronic inflammatory diseases that affect a very large number of the population worldwide.
Aim: This study's aim was to compare the status of dental hygiene in a group of patients with DM, with patients in the control group, and to histologically analyzing the gum from the subjects with DM.
Patients, materials and methods: The study sample was made up of 53 control subjects and 107 diabetics aged 19-80 years old. We evaluated the following parameters: the plaque index (PI) and the calculus index (CI), according to Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, and the gingival index (GI), according to the Löe & Silness criterion, correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin and the blood sugar levels.
Results: For all hygiene indices, the mean values recorded for the control group were significantly lower than the mean values recorded for any sub-category in the diabetic groups.
Conclusions: DM contributes unfavorably to the evolution of periodontal disease. The poor glycemic control and the improper oral hygiene have a negative impact on the health of the periodontium, highlighted by increased scores on PI, CI and GI scales.