Author(s):
Diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly impacts oral health and requires tailored management strategies in dentistry. This chronic metabolic disorder affects the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. Oral manifestations of diabetes include periodontal disease, xerostomia, dental caries, and delayed wound healing. These conditions pose challenges in dental care, necessitating close collaboration between dental and medical professionals to optimize patient outcomes. Dentists play a crucial role in the early detection of diabetes through oral symptoms and in providing preventive and therapeutic interventions. Management approaches encompass patient education, meticulous oral hygiene, regular dental visits, and coordination with healthcare providers to control blood glucose levels effectively. This integration ensures comprehensive care that addresses both oral health and systemic well-being in diabetic patients.
Diabetes mellitus poses significant challenges to oral health, impacting both the progression of dental diseases and the outcomes of dental treatments. This review explores the intricate interplay between diabetes and dentistry, focusing on the epidemiological, pathophysiological, and clinical aspects. Diabetes, characterized by hyperglycemia, alters immune function and collagen metabolism, predisposing individuals to a higher risk of periodontal disease, dental caries, and oral infections. These conditions not only exacerbate diabetes but also complicate dental management. Understanding these interactions is crucial for comprehensive dental care, emphasizing the role of multidisciplinary approaches and tailored preventive strategies in managing oral health in diabetic patients.
