Diabetes and oral health promotion: A survey of disease prevention behaviors

Background. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease known to affect oral di sease progression. The authors surveyed health behaviors essential for prev enting dental and periodontal diseases and maintaining oral health in a pop ulation of adult patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. The goa ls of this study were to assess these patients' oral health behaviors, acce ss to dental care and need for improved health education. Methods. As part of a dental and periodontal examination, 406 subjects with type 1 diabetes completed a questionnaire regarding their oral health atti tudes, behaviors and knowledge. The authors also evaluated 203 age-matched nondiabetic control subjects. Results. The authors found that diabetic subjects' tobacco use and oral hyg iene behaviors were similar to those of the nondiabetic control subjects. D iabetic subjects, however, more frequently reported the cost of dental care as a reason for avoiding routine visits. Most of these subjects were unawa re of the oral health complications of their disease and the need for prope r preventive care. Conclusions. Patients with diabetes appear to lack important knowledge abou t the oral health complications of their disease. The results of this surve y did not indicate improved prevention behaviors among the subjects with di abetes compared with nondiabetic control subjects. Clinical Implications. Dentists have an opportunity and the responsibility to promote good oral health behaviors such as regular dental examinations, proper oral hygiene and smoking cessation that may significantly affect the oral health of their diabetic patients.