Diabetes mellitus, a major chronic disease affecting human health, has been increasing in prevalence in recent years. Diabetes mellitus can cause bone metabolic disorders in patients, leading to osteoporosis, a higher risk of traumatic fracture, and other bone diseases. Bone metabolic disorders in the oral cavity principally manifest as periodontitis, loss of alveolar bone, and failure of implant osseointegration. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that there is a complex interaction between bone metabolic disorders and diabetes mellitus. This paper reviews the adverse effects of diabetes on oral bone metabolism disorders such as alveolar osteoporosis and bone loss in patients with periodontitis, discusses the potential mechanisms of diabetic bone loss, and suggests potential ways to prevent and treat oral bone loss in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Recently, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been reported to have a photobiomodulation effect on bio-tissues. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of low level GaAlAs laser on bone regeneration around bone defect sites created surgically in rabbit femur. Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into an experimental and a control groups. A GaAlAs semiconductor diode laser was applied in the experimental group( λ = 808nm ， P =75mW, φ =0.4mm,t=5min, ρ E =28J/cm 2 )immediately after surgery once a day for 3 consecutive days with no irradiation in the control group.Rabbits were sacrificed on the 7th, 14th, 21th days after surgery (DAS) and femur samples were prepared for bone histomorphometry analysis. The results showed that the bone volume, the osteoid volume, osteoblast surface in the laser group were higher statistically (P﹤0.05) than those indices in the control group at different periods. These data revealed that LLLT can enhance bone regeneration. LLLT seems to have a clinical application in promoting bone healing around implant in the future.