Clinical and Microbiological Periodontal Biofilm Evaluation of Patients with Type I Diabetes

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the microbial composition and density of subgingival plaque samples for periodontal pathogens while correlating the values with glycemic control levels via glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a type of hemoglobin that has chemically linked glucose, in type I diabetes individuals who will undergo complex oral rehabilitation through orthodontic treatment and implant surgery. Methods: A cohort of 42 adults with type I diabetes were included in this study. The subjects sustained a comprehensive periodontal clinical examination as well as microbiological assessments of their subgingival plaque samples through quantitative real-time PCR. The samples were collected from the two deepest pockets of each subject. Results: The highest number of periodontopathogenic bacteria was observed in the pockets of 5–7 mm. T. forsythia showed the highest prevalence (20.48%), with decreasing numbers as follows: T. denticola (13.31%), P. gingivalis (11.26%), A. actinomycetemcomitans (7%), and P. intermedia (4.9%). T. denticola and T. forsythia were significantly more commonly observed in individuals with elevated HbA1c serum levels. No correlation was observed between P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. intermedia presence, and the HbA1c value. Conclusions: Periodontopathogenic agents’ presence in subgingival biofilm samples varied in accordance with the pocket probing depth and metabolic control of the diabetic individuals. In our study, the appearance of these periodontopathogenic agents was linked to lowered metabolic control in patients with type I diabetes mellitus.