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CLINICAL PRACTICE |
From the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New JerseySchool of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford (Herring) and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston (Shah).
Address correspondence to Marvin E. Herring, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New JerseySchool of Osteopathic Medicine, University Doctors Pavilion, St 2100, 42 E Laurel Rd, Stratford, NJ 08084-1354. E-mail: herrinmg{at}umdnj.edu
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that more than 20 million people (approximately 7% of the population) in the United States have diabetes mellitus. Physicians often fail to examine the mouths and teeth of their patients, even though the condition of the mouth and teeth have clinical relevance for the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus. The authors examine the current state of knowledge regarding periodontal disease and the effect of periodontal disease on worsening of glycemic control. They review several studies investigating how the management of periodontal disease affects the ability of patients to control symptoms of diabetes mellitus. The authors conclude with several recommendations for the treatment of patients with periodontal disease to improve glycemic control.
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| Anatomy of the Tooth |
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| Pathologic Characteristics of Periodontal Disease |
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It is important to realize that periodontal disease involves a shift in the
oral/dental flora from the normal, gram-positive anaerobic bacteria (eg,
Lactobacillus, Peptostreptococcus,
Streptococcus),7
to predominantly gram-negative anaerobic bacteria. Some of the bacteria
believed to be involved in periodontal disease are Actinobacillus
actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides forsythus, Porphyromonas gingivalis,
and Treponema
denticola.8 The
host responds to this shift in bacterial flora by developing an inflammatory
response, with the generation of such cytokines as tumor necrosis factor
(TNF-
) and interleukin 1
(IL-1).5
A major concern with periodontal disease is that, in some patients, the immune system does not effectively eliminate the source of the inflammation (ie, the gram-negative anaerobes). If these bacteria are not eliminated, the patient's immune system is continuously activated, and a chronic inflammatory process results. This chronic inflammation leads to production of reactive oxygen species, which, in turn, activate matrix metalloproteinases.6 These enzymes degrade the collagen in the periodontal ligaments, leading to decreased attachment of the tooth to the alveolar process (which presents clinically as a loose tooth) and deepening of the gingival sulcus.
Gingival pockets are spaces in which bacteria can potentially proliferate, resulting in worsening of infection and/or inflammation. The oxygen pressure (PO2) in gingival pockets is low, fostering the growth of anaerobic bacteria. For the most part, these bacteria do not invade the periodontal tissue because the PO2 of the tissue is much higher than in the pockets. However, in some patients, such as smokers who have vasoconstriction and decreased PO2 in their tissues, bacterial invasion of periodontal tissue may occur.6
It is believed that the loss of periodontal ligaments in patients with periodontal disease is permanent.5 Even so, effective management of periodontal disease may prevent further destruction of the periodontal ligaments. Treatment is aimed at decreasing the bacterial load of pathogenic species, which serves to quell the inflammatory process.
| Treatment of Patients With Periodontal Disease |
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In addition to mechanical treatment, the use of antimicrobial agents, both systemic and topical, has been increasing because of the realization that periodontal disease is not merely an overgrowth of bacteria, but also a shift in bacterial species.6,8 Topical treatment with either antibiotics or antiseptics has the advantage of delivering the antibacterial agent directly to where it is needed. Topical antibiotics include medications in the tetracycline family (eg, doxycycline, metronidazole, minocycline, and ofloxacin). Topical antiseptics include chlorhexidine-containing formulations, povidone-iodine, and sodium hypochlorite.
Systemic antibiotics reach the gingival pockets through the gingival crevice fluid, which is a type of transudate. Adding systemic treatment to topical treatment also addresses the problem of bacteria on the tongue and oral mucosa, thereby reducing potential sources of recolonization of the gingival pockets. Furthermore, when bacteria invade periodontal tissue, systemic antibiotics will destroy the microorganisms deep in the crevices, in areas that may be missed in the application of topical treatments. Common systemic antibiotics include clindamycin, metronidazole, penicillins, and tetracyclines. Most of the studies discussed in the present review involved the use of antibiotics in the tetracycline family, which are the most commonly used systemic antibiotics for these patients.
Although research has shown that tetracycline concentration in the gingival crevice fluid varies substantially from patient to patient,8 an advantage of using antibiotics in the tetracycline family is that, in addition to their antimicrobial action, they also inhibit the activity of metalloproteinases. Metalloproteinases are zinc-dependent enzymes. Tetracyclines cause chelation of zinc (as well as calcium), which inhibits the activity of the enzymes. Tetracyclines may also decrease intracellular expression of metalloproteinases.9 Doxycycline has been shown to be the most effective of the tetracyclines at inhibiting metalloproteinases.9 This inhibitory action prevents the degradation of collagen in the periodontal ligaments and the resulting formation of gingival pockets and loss of tooth attachment.6
| Physiologic Mechanisms Involved in Periodontal Disease and Diabetes Mellitus |
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, which is known to foster insulin resistance.
Tumor necrosis factor
is a cytokine that is released by adipocytes
(fat cells), among other cells. It is believed to play a role in the insulin
resistance associated with
obesity.4
Several actions of TNF-
have been
identified.4 Tumor
necrosis factor
is believed to impair the tyrosine phosphorylation of
insulin receptor substrate molecules, an essential step in the signal
transduction pathway for
insulin.4 This
action thereby impairs the messenger RNA (mRNA) transcription process needed
for synthesis of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter protein (GLUT-4)
receptor. In addition, TNF-
causes adipocytes to release free fatty
acids, which contribute to insulin resistance by impairing insulin
signaling.4
Experimental evidence reported by Keskin et
al10 suggests that
medical treatment of patients with periodontal disease decreases their levels
of TNF-
, thereby improving periodontal control. In this
study,10 obese
patients with diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease were treated with
mechanical débridement of the plaque and topical minocycline. Follow-up
evaluations of these patients demonstrated significant decreases in hemoglobin
A1c (HbA1c), TNF-
, and insulin resistance
(P<.05), as measured with the homeostasis model assessment insulin
resistance (HOMA-r)
index.10 This index
is a method of calculating insulin resistance using the product of fasting
glucose and insulin levels, divided by a constant.
In a noncontrolled study by Iwamoto et
al,11 there was a
strong correlation between improved HbA1c levels and decreases in TNF-
levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The results led the authors
to conclude that treatment with antibiotics is effective in improving
metabolic control in patients with diabetes
mellitus.11
According to Noma et al,12 there is evidence that periodontal disease may be related to diabetic retinopathy. Interleukin 6, an inflammatory cytokine that is produced in response to periodontal inflammation, is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. A cross-sectional study by Noma et al12 demonstrated a correlation between the severity of periodontal disease, IL-6 levels in the vitreous humor, and the severity of diabetic retinopathy.
| Studies Evaluating Treatment |
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Because each of these
studies13,14
was longitudinal in design, it was unclear if periodontal disease was the
cause of the impaired glucose tolerance observed in the patients. There may
have been some other factor causing both the periodontal disease and diabetes
mellitus in the patients. For example, obesity leads to insulin resistance and
diabetes mellitus as a result of TNF-
being released from
adipocytes.4 In
addition, TNF-
released from adipocytes may contribute to periodontal
disease by stimulating the production of matrix metalloproteinases by
fibroblasts and by stimulating bone
resorption.4
Although periodontal disease is not the singular causative agent of diabetes mellitus, several studies11,19,20 using various interventions have demonstrated improved glucose tolerance with the use of tetracycline analogues in the treatment of patients with periodontal disease.
Mechanical/Nonsurgical Treatment
A retrospective controlled trial by Stewart et
al15 demonstrated
that mechanical treatment (eg, ultrasonic scaling and root planing) led to
significantly reduced HbA1c levels in patients with periodontitis and type 2
diabetes mellitus (n=36), compared with an equal number of individuals who
received no periodontal treatment. Patients in the treatment group had, on
average, a 17.1% reduction in HbA1c levels at 10 months follow-up, while those
in the control group had a reduction of 6.7%, a statistically significant
difference (P=.02). Stewart et
al15 stated that
during the 10-month period, physicians began using HbA1c levels as guides for
treatment, which may have been the reason for the improvement in the control
group. However, because the treatment group's improvement was greater than
that experienced by the control group, the authors concluded that the
reduction in HbA1c levels in patients who received treatment was probably the
result of not only improved diabetes control but also periodontal disease
treatment.15
A randomized controlled trial by Kiran et al16 of 44 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus demonstrated that patients who received mechanical treatment for periodontal disease had, on average, a 10.94% reduction in HbA1c levels at 3 months follow-up. This reduction compared with a 4.42% increase in HbA1c levels in the control group. The difference between the two groups was significant (P=.033).16
In contrast to these studies, some studies have shown no significant improvement in glycemic control with periodontal treatment. A randomized controlled trial by al-Mubarak et al17 of 52 patients who had either type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus compared the use of ultrasonic scaling and root planing alone with the use of subgingival water irrigation added to these mechanical treatment methods. The authors did not find a significant decrease in HbA1c levels in either group, though there was significant improvement in periodontal status in both groups (P<.03).17
Christgau et al18 conducted a nonrandomized trial of nonsurgical treatment for periodontal disease in 20 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, revealing no change in metabolic parameters at 4 months, compared with baseline. The patients were treated in two phases: the first phase involved instruction in oral hygiene and routine dental care. The second phase involved subgingival scaling and root planing combined with administration of chlorhexidine.18
Tetracycline Family of Antibiotics
A noncontrolled pilot study by Miller et
al19 of nine cases
investigated the usefulness of mechanical débridement, chlorhexidine
rinse (30 seconds twice daily), and doxycycline (100 mg twice daily for 1 day,
once daily for 13 days). Five patients showed improved periodontal status as
manifested by reduced bleeding during probing of the gingival sulcus, and they
had a significant decrease in HbA1c levels, from 8.7% to 7.8%
(P<.01). The other four patients had no improvement in periodontal
status and did not have an overall improvement in HbA1c
levels.19
A controlled trial by Grossi et
al20 involving 113
Pima Indians revealed that patients with periodontal disease and diabetes
mellitus who were treated with mechanical débridement and systemic
doxycycline had significant decreases in HbA1c levels at 3 months follow-up
(P
.04), compared with patients who received oral rinses of water
(ie, placebo), chlorhexidine, or iodine. Although improvement in periodontal
status was maintained or even increased at 6 months' follow-up, the decreased
HbA1c levels did not persist for this length of time. Grossi et
al20 concluded that
the doxycycline probably caused a reduction in the periodontal infection and
inflammation, leading to decreased TNF-
levels. However, the authors
noted that doxycycline has also been shown to reduce nonenzymatic
glycationa reduction that is probably a factor in decreased HbA1c
levels.20
Iwamoto et al11
demonstrated that treatment with local minocycline was associated with
significantly decreased serum TNF-
levels (P<.015), as well
as decreased insulin resistance as manifested by the HOMA-r index
(P<.03). In addition, the authors found a strong correlation
between the decreased TNF-
levels and the HbA1c
levels,11
supporting the idea that the reduction of insulin resistance is at least part
of the effect of the tetracycline family of antibiotics.
At least one study of patients with periodontal disease has found contrasting results to reports of significant benefits in glycemic control. In a randomized controlled trial that included 52 patients with periodontal disease, Promsudthi et al21 compared mechanical treatment and systemic doxycycline (100 mg/d for 14 days) with no periodontal treatment. Although the authors found some reduction in HbA1c levels in the treatment group, these reductions were not significant.21
Treatment Using Other Antibiotics
A randomized controlled trial by Rodrigues et
al22 compared
mechanical treatment of patients with periodontal disease (n=15) with
mechanical treatment combined with amoxicillin and clavunate combination
therapy (n=15). The authors reported that the patients who received mechanical
débridement alone had a significant reduction in HbA1c levels
(P<.05), but the patients who received amoxicillin and clavunate
combination therapy in addition to débridement did not have
significantly reduced
levels.22 This
result occurred despite the fact that both groups showed significant
improvements in probing depth (P<.05), a main measurement of
severity of periodontal disease.
| Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus |
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Is it possible that subtle changes in insulin resistance resulting from periodontal disease may worsen glycemic control even in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus? In studies of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, neither Smith et al23 nor Aldridge et al24 found a significant difference in patients' HbA1c levels before and after treatment with débridement. A study by Skaleric et al25which made a comparison between patients treated with scaling, root planing, and minocycline microspheres and patients treated with only scaling and root planingnoted reductions in HbA1c in both groups. However, these reductions did not reach levels of significance.25
| Comment |
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Even in those studies that involved the tetracycline family of antibiotics, such as Grossi et al,20 the improvements in HbA1c did not persist at 6 months' follow-up, though periodontal health was maintained at that point. Grossi et al20 noted that tetracyclines can produce various effects, including the inhibition of glycosylation reactions. Such studies may cause one to wonder whether the antibiotics administered to patients for periodontal disease lead to improved glucose control and, thus, decreased HbA1c levelsor whether tetracyline merely decreases glycosylation of hemoglobin, leading to decreased HbA1c levels despite no improvment in glucose control. Might tetracyclines alleviate symptoms of periodontal disease and decrease glycosylation of hemoglobin via mechanisms that have nothing to do with each other? Even if that is the case, inhibiton of glycosylation of proteins by tetracycline may help prevent some of the complications of diabetes mellitus, which are, in part, caused by glycosylation of such proteins as the collagen in vessel walls.
| Conclusions |
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Physicians need to be mindful of poor periodontal health as one of the possible reasons for a patient's poor control of diabetes mellitus. Thorough examination by physicians of the mouth and teeth is important for all patientsespecially those diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus. It is also appropriate for physicians to recommend that patients avoid concentrated sweets, brush and floss after meals, and use topical antiseptics as an oral rinse or a pulsed irrigation. Physicians should consider prescribing doxycycline to patients with diabetes mellitus who have signs of periodontal disease. Physicians should also strongly consider referring such patients to dentists for mechanical treatment.
Before undergoing periodontal procedures, such as root planing and scaling, patients with valvular disease and/or cardiovascular stents must receive an additional antibiotic for endocarditis prophylaxis. Doxycycline is not an appropriate antibiotic for prophylaxis because it does not adequately eliminate the bacteria responsible for endocarditis. Alternative antibiotic prophylaxis may also be indicated for patients who have had joint replacements within the previous 2 years or who are immunosuppressed, as in cases of diabetes mellitus.26
| References |
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25. Skaleric U, Schara R, Medvescek M, Hanlon A, Doherty F, Lessem J. Periodontal treatment by Arestin and its effects on glycemic control in type I diabetes patients. J Int Acad Periodontol.2004; 6(4 suppl):160 165.[Medline]
26. American Dental Association, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Advisory statementantibiotic prophylaxis for dental patients with total joint replacements. September 4, 2003. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons Web site. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/wordhtml/papers/advistmt/1014.htm. Accessed October 1, 2005.
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