The purpose of this study was to assess the tissue
response of Type 2 diabetic subjects towards non surgical
periodontal therapy as compared with matched, nondiabetic
subjects. This was a retrospective, comparative
study using periodontal case notes of 40 subjects attending
undergraduates’ periodontal clinics (20 diabetics, 20 nondiabetics),
who were selected based on the inclusion
and exclusion criteria. Response towards non surgical
periodontal therapy was assessed through three clinical
periodontal parameters, namely plaque score, gingivitis
score and number of periodontal pocket ≥5mm at the
baseline and after initial non surgical periodontal therapy.
Data obtained was then analyzed by SPSS Version 12.
Both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects showed significant
improvements (p-value = 0.021; 0.000; 0.001 and 0.010;
0.014; 0.001) in all three parameters after the therapy.
However, when comparison was made between the two
groups, there was no significant difference (p-value = 0.913;
0.892 and 0.903) in any of the parameters. Periodontal
conditions improved clinically in both diabetic and nondiabetic
subjects after non-surgical periodontal therapy.
Therefore, both groups responded similarly towards the
therapy and thus it can be postulated that well-controlled
diabetic status does not have a significant effect on the
outcome of periodontal therapy.