Homogarani YM et al.
The association of diabetes mellitus (DM) with dental and oral complications such as caries, periodontal disease and xerostomia is well known. DM can affect oral status and oral health-related quality of life. The aim of this Iranian literature study was to systematically review and evaluate the impact of diabetes on oral health-related quality of life.
After the selection of 237 data sets and meta-analysis of three case-control and eight cross-sectional studies, DM has no significant association with oral health-related quality of life, which could be due to different parameters considered, populations, or aspects of patients' personal health assessed differently on an individual basis.
However, the evaluation showed that DM could lead to functional limitations, physical pain, and psychological discomfort. Complications of DM also affect well-being. Therefore, dentists can play an important role in raising diabetic patients' awareness of problems such as xerostomia, even as part of the medical history, and improve their overall oral health-related quality of life, even if they were previously unaware of these associations.
This summary of a scientific study by Homogarani YM et al. is presented by Ralf Seltmann, DDS, Senior Manager Clinical Affairs. Click here for more information.