Diabetes and Periodontal Disease: A Two-Way Relationship

Periodontitisis an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth caused by specific micro-organisms or group of specific micro-organisms, resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontalligament and alveolar bone with pocket formation, recession or both.1 Periodontalinfections can adversely affect the systemic health with manifestations such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, preterm labor, low-birth weightdelivery, and respiratory disease.1 Severe periodontitisoften coexists with diabetes and is considered to be the sixth complication of the disease, as both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients show a three-to four fold increased risk of periodontitis. 2