Periapical health in Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients with good glycemic control: A cross-sectional case-control study.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1-DM) and apical periodontitis (AP). The periapical and endodontic conditions of T1-DM individuals were compared with healthy people.

Methods: T1-DM subjects aged 18-45 with good glycemic control (HbA1c < 7) were included in this research. Individuals without systemic disease, twice as many as diabetic patients, were selected as the control group by matching them in terms of age and gender. The subjects' periapical and endodontic statuses were determined by assessing their existing digital panoramic radiographs.

Results: This study included 226 subjects with T1-DM, 101 males and 125 females (30.78 ± 8.59 years). For the control group, 452 subjects without systemic disease, 224 males and 228 females (30.26 ± 8.64 years) were selected. The mean number of teeth in the control group was significantly higher than in the T1-DM group (P = 0.001). However, no significant difference was found between the T1-DM and control groups in terms of endodontic and periapical conditions (P > 0.05). Bivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a positive association between T1-DM and the number of teeth with AP only (P = 0.001; OR = 1.476). There was no association between T1-DM and endodontic conditions or other periapical health-related variables.

Clinical significance: T1-DM patients lost more teeth than the control individuals. As the number of teeth with AP increased, individuals were more likely to be in the T1-DM group. Healthcare professionals should inform patients with Type 1 diabetes about oral health for a better quality of life.