An Overview of Periodontal Disease and Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus and chronic periodontitis are the most common chronic diseases in the adult world
population. Diabetes mellitus is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of metabolic disorder
manifested by abnormally high level of glucose in blood. Whereas, Periodontitis [1] is an inflammatory
disease of supporting tissues of teeth caused by specific microorganism or group of specific
microorganisms resulting in progressive destruction of periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with
pocket formation, recession or both. It is multifactorial disease occurring as a result of complex
interrelationship between infectious agents and host related factors. Periodontal diseases and
diabetes mellitus are closely associated and are highly prevalent chronic diseases with many
similarities in pathobiology. Related antecedent conditions including obesity and insulin resistance
may play an important role in this relationship. Inflammation is a critical player in the association
between both. Diabetes clearly increases the risk of periodontal diseases, and biologically plausible
mechanisms have been demonstrated in abundance. It is possible that periodontal diseases may
serve as initiators or propagators of insulin resistance in a way similar to obesity, thereby aggravating
glycemic control. Less clear is the impact of periodontal diseases on glycemic control of diabetes and
the mechanisms through which this occurs. It is possible that periodontal diseases may serve as
initiators or propagators of insulin resistance in a way similar to obesity, thereby aggravating glycemic
control. Further research is needed to clarify this aspect of the relationship between periodontal
diseases and diabetes.