OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between diabetic status and periodontal conditions in the Japanese-Brazilian population. METHODS: The sample consisted of 1,315 subjects, of both sexes, first (Issei) and second (Nisei) generations, aged 30 to 92 years, living in Bauru, Brazil. Edentulism and presence of 6 null sextants were the exclusion criteria for the sample. The Community Periodontal Index and Periodontal Attachment Loss Index were determined using the probing of 10 teeth in a sample of 831 subjects. The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was based on fasting blood sugar and blood sugar 2 hours after 75 mg of glucose overload. Statistical analysis was conducted using Kappa test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Regarding periodontal conditions, 25.5% of the sample were healthy people, 12.5% showed bleeding on probing, 49.4% calculus, 10.4% pockets of 4-5 mm deep, and 2.2% pockets deeper than 6 mm. The percentage of subjects with an attachment loss of 0-3mm was 24.2%; 4-5mm, 36.7%; 6-8mm, 23.7%; 9-11mm, 11.3%; and up to 12 mm or more, 4.1%. The association between the periodontal condition and diabetes mellitus showed no statistical significance (p<0.05), although diabetic subjects have a higher percentage of deeper pockets and attachment loss >6 mm than non-diabetics, as tested by Chi-square test. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological studies relating oral health and systemic disease, such as diabetes mellitus, can provide important contributions for preventing the worsening of such diseases.
Periodontal diseases; Diabetes mellitus; Periodontal index; Oral health
