PERIODONTAL STATUS AND SELECTED CULTIVABLE ANAEROBIC MICROFLORA OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT JUVENILE DIABETICS

THE PERIODONTAL STATUS AND SUBGINGIVAL microflora of insulin-dependent juvenile diabetic (JD) patients (n = 16, mean age = 11.3) were compar ed with that of their non-diabetic cohabiting healthy siblings (HS, n = 16, mean age = 13.2). JD patients were monitored every 3 months for levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) and clinical and microbial parameters were measured 6 weeks before drawing blood for levels of H bA(1c) (M% = 8.76). Clinical indices, measured for the entire permanen t dentition, included: probing depth (PD), attachment level (AL), sulc us bleeding index (SBI), and plaque index (PI). Subgingival plaque sam ples were obtained at 2 sites from each subject; whenever possible, th e site with the deepest probing depth and the mesial aspect of the max illary right first molar were used. Microbial analyses were determined by cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. No significant dif ferences were detected in any of the clinical indices for the entire d entition. The mean AL for JD sites was 2.32 +/- 0.83 mm and for HS sit es was 2.2 +/- 0.85 mm. Mean percentage of total cultivable anaerobic microflora included Capnocytophaga spp. (JD, 13.21%; HS, 11%) and Porp hyromonas gingivalis (JD, 5.1%; HS, 7.9%). Differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. When cluster analysis was performed on sampled sites, one cluster group in JD patients showed si gnificantly elevated P. gingivalis and lower Capnocytophaga spp. level s as compared to the overall mean. The clinical parameters of this clu ster were characterized by statistically significant greater loss of a ttachment and probing depth. These data would suggest few differences between JD patients and their HS in this population.