Assessment of dental caries and gingival status among a group of type 1 diabetes mellitus and healthy children of South India - a comparative study.

Background Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder. However, dental caries and periodontal health have not attracted much interest in diabetic patients. This study was carried out to assess the dental caries status and gingival health status in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods The study group consisted of 80 children, aged 6-18 years, with T1DM. The dental caries status was recorded using the World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria. Gingival health was assessed using the Loe and Silness gingival index (GI). Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results The mean dental caries status for primary (decayed, extracted, filled teeth [deft]) and permanent dentition (decayed, missing, filled teeth [DMFT]) scores in diabetic children were 0.44±1.28 and 1.26±2.49, respectively. The GI scores of diabetic children were 0.33±0.48. GI in the study group significantly correlated with DMFT (p<0.001) and deft (p≤0.05). Conclusions Dental caries in primary dentition was lower in diabetic children but was not statistically significant, whereas dental caries in permanent dentition was significantly higher. The gingival condition of diabetic children was healthy.