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Expert view: Philip M. Preshaw

British Dental Journal volume 233, page 216 (2022)Cite this article

Periodontitis and diabetes are prevalent chronic diseases that have significant impacts on health and wellbeing. Diabetes prevalence is increasing rapidly, and currently, 1 in 10 adults worldwide have diabetes. Within Europe, 61 million adults are currently living with diabetes, and 1 in 3 adults with diabetes are undiagnosed.1 This is very relevant to dentistry, as we will continue to see ever-increasing numbers of patients with the disease.

The bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and diabetes is well established, with each negatively impacting the other. Diabetes increases risk for periodontitis approximately 2-3 times compared to individuals without diabetes and the level of glycaemic control is key in determining risk. In the other direction, periodontitis has a significant impact on diabetes control and increases the risk of diabetes complications. Multiple studies have shown that treatment of periodontitis can result in clinically relevant improvements in diabetes control.2 The importance of the links between diabetes and periodontitis is recognised in the S3 Clinical Practice Guideline which includes risk factor control (such as diabetes control interventions) in step one of care.3

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References

  1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10th ed. Brussels: IDF, 2021. Available at https://www.diabetesatlas.org (accessed July 2022).

  2. Simpson T C, Clarkson J E, Worthington H V et al. Treatment of periodontitis for glycaemic control in people with diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004714.pub4.

  3. Sanz M, Herrera D, Kebschull M et al. On behalf of the EFP Workshop Participants and Methodological Consultants. Treatment of stage I-III periodontitis - The EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline. J Clin Periodontol 2020; 47 Suppl 22: 4-60.

  4. Bissett S M, Preshaw P M, Presseau J, Rapley T. A qualitative study exploring strategies to improve the inter-professional management of diabetes and periodontitis. Prim Care Diabetes 2020; 14: 126-132.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor of Periodontology and Dean of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Dundee, UK

    Philip M. Preshaw

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  1. Philip M. Preshaw
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Preshaw, P. Expert view: Philip M. Preshaw. Br Dent J 233, 216 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4603-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4603-1

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