Comprehensive Dental Treatment and Glycemic Control in Primary Health Care Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and periodontal disease are linked through a bidirectional inflammatory relationship that can impair glycaemic control. This study aimed to evaluate the association between comprehensive dental treatment and glycaemic control in adults with T2DM enrolled in Chile´s Cardiovascular Health Programme (CVHP).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was based on routine electronic health records from primary care services in La Reina, Chile, between 2021 and 2023. The exposure variable was the completion of comprehensive dental treatment, and the outcome was final glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), analysed both as a continuous measure and as a binary indicator of glycaemic compensation. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were fitted, adjusted for baseline HbA1c, age, sex and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS

The final analytical cohort included 392 participants (196 treated and 196 untreated). The balanced group sizes resulted from the inclusion of all eligible individuals with complete HbA1c data from each exposure category rather than from sampling or matching. Comprehensive dental treatment was associated with lower mean final HbA1c values (β = -0.94; 95% CI: -1.15 to -0.72; p < 0.001) and was also associated with lower odds of final glycaemic decompensation in the adjusted logistic model (OR = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.10-0.34).

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive dental treatment was significantly associated with improved glycaemic control among adults with T2DM. These findings reinforce the relevance of integrating oral health care into chronic disease management and align with person-centred, multimorbidity care frameworks. Further prospective research is warranted to confirm causality and inform public health policy.