Effect of providing comprehensive dental treatments on Chinese diabetic patients

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of providing comprehensive dental treatments on oral health status and quality of life of diabetic patients in Hong Kong. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. 105 patients with poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes (HbA₁c ≥ 8%), aged 41-70 years, were recruited from a diabetes centre in Hong Kong. Each patient was asked to complete a questionnaire, which included three patient-centered outcome measures: SF-12, GOHAI, and DTSQ, and two global questions on the subjects' self-satisfaction with their own oral health and self-perceived oral health status, in a face-to-face interview by a trained interviewer. Then, a thorough clinical examination and later comprehensive dental treatments were provided by dentists in a dental teaching hospital. After the active treatment phase, subjects who had received all the planned dental treatments were reviewed every 3 months for a year. At evaluation, the same questionnaire and clinical examination were completed. Results: At evaluation, 83 patients (79% of the original cohort) remained in the study. No statistically significant differences were found between the subjects who remained in the study and those who dropped out, except the prevalence of periapical lesion or retained roots. The oral health status of the subjects improved greatly between baseline and evaluation. There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) between the mean scores of the GOHAI, NPCS and NMCS, and DTSQ of the cohort at baseline and at evaluation. However, the mean scores of the subjects' self-satisfaction with their own oral health and self-perceived oral health status at evaluation were lower than those at baseline (P<0.001). Conclusions: Provision of comprehensive dental treatments can lead to an improvement in both oral health status and oral health-related quality of life of a cohort of poorly-controlled type 2 diabetic patients.