Effect of periodontal therapy on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes

Aim: This study aimed to elucidate the impact of periodontal therapy on glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes and various baseline blood glucose levels using a large-scale claims database from Japan.

Materials and methods: Using the JMDC Claims Database, we identified individuals with type 2 diabetes who underwent health check-ups in the fiscal years 2018 or 2019 and were followed up until the next year's health check-up. We conducted a weighted cohort analysis using stabilized inverse probability weights for treatment and censoring to estimate the effect of periodontal therapy on changes in haemoglobin A1c levels within a year. Analysis was done for different baseline haemoglobin A1c categories: 6.5%-6.9%, 7.0%-7.9% and ≥8.0%.

Results: Of the 4279 insured persons included in the study, 957 received periodontal therapy. Overall, there was a tendency towards improved glycaemic control among those who received periodontal therapy. Participants with baseline haemoglobin A1c levels of 7.0%-7.9% who received periodontal therapy exhibited significantly better glycaemic control compared with those without dental visits (difference; -0.094 [95% confidence interval: -0.181 to -0.007]).

Conclusions: Periodontal therapy may improve glycaemic control in individuals with diabetes, especially in those with haemoglobin A1c levels ≥7.0%.