Abstract
Although the association between diabetes mellitus and periodontitis has been well studied, the association between diabetes and the masticatory function has not yet been elucidated. In this cross-sectional study, we attempted to clarify this association by analyzing the data of 204 type 2 diabetes patients hospitalized for an education program [126 men and 76 women; age 24-86 years (mean age 57 years) ]. The glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were obtained from the medical records. The masticatory function, number of teeth present, number of occlusal supports, and the community periodontal index (CPI) were obtained from the dental records. Since sex differences were found in background factors such as age, multiple linear regression analyses were performed using HbA1c as the outcome variable, and age, and CPI code 4/not code 4, and one of the three masticatory indices (masticatory function, number of teeth present, or number of occlusal supports) as the explanatory variables in each sex. Women were significantly older, had poorer masticatory function and had fewer teeth and occlusal supports (p<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant association of CPI code 4 (Beta: 0.264, p=0.020) and masticatory function (Beta: −0.263, p=0.018) with the HbA1c only in women. The number of teeth present and occlusal supports were not significantly associated with the HbA1c in either sex. These results show that high HbA1c levels are associated with poor masticatory function and severe periodontitis, especially in women. Dental professionals must pay attention not only to periodontitis, but also to the masticatory function in diabetic patients, in collaboration with other medical professionals.
