Effect of non‐surgical periodontal therapy on clinical and immunological response and glycaemic control in type 2 diabetic patients with moderate periodontitis

Abstract Objetives: The purpose of this study was to compare the local efficacy of nonsurgical periodontal therapy between type 2 diabetic and non‐diabetic patients and the effect of periodontal therapy on glycaemic control. Background: A complex two‐way relationship exists between diabetes mellitus and periodontitis. Material and Methods: After selection, 20 subjects (10 diabetic and 10 non‐diabetic) underwent baseline examination, periodontal clinical study and biochemical analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). After the pre‐treatment phase, subgingival scaling and root planing were performed. Subsequently, all subjects continued the maintenance programme and were re‐examined at 3 and 6 months. Results: Diabetic and non‐diabetic subjects responded well after therapy, showing a very similar progression during the follow‐up period. Both groups showed clinically and immunologically significant improvements. Significant reductions were also found in the total volume of GCF and levels of interleukin‐1 β and tumour necrosis factor‐ α . Diabetic subjects showed an improvement in their metabolic control. The change in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA 1C ) was statistically significant at 3 and 6 months. Conclusions: The clinical and immunological improvements obtained were accompanied by a significant reduction in HbA 1C values in type 2 diabetic subjects. Larger studies are needed to confirm this finding and establish whether periodontal therapy has a significant effect on glycaemic control.