The effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on hemoglobin a1c levels in persons with type 2 diabetes and chronic periodontitis a randomized clinical trial

Steven P. Engebretson, Leslie G. Hyman, Bryan S. Michalowicz, Elinor R. Schoenfeld, Marie C. Gelato, Wei Hou, Elizabeth R. Seaquist, Michael S. Reddy, Cora E. Lewis, Thomas W. Oates, Devjit Tripathy, James A. Katancik, Philip R. Orlander, David W. Paquette, Naomi Q. Hanson, Michael Y. Tsai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

199 Scopus citations

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Chronic periodontitis, a destructive inflammatory disorder of the supporting structures of the teeth, is prevalent in patients with diabetes. Limited evidence suggests that periodontal therapymay improve glycemic control. OBJECTIVE: To determine if nonsurgical periodontal treatment reduces levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in persons with type 2 diabetes and moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Diabetes and Periodontal Therapy Trial (DPTT), a 6-month, single-masked, multicenter, randomized clinical trial. Participants had type 2 diabetes, were taking stable doses of medications, had HbA1c levels between 7%and less than 9%, and untreated chronic periodontitis. Five hundred fourteen participants were enrolled between November 2009 and March 2012 from diabetes and dental clinics and communities affiliated with 5 academic medical centers. INTERVENTIONS: The treatment group (n = 257) received scaling and root planing plus chlorhexidine oral rinse at baseline and supportive periodontal therapy at 3 and 6 months. The control group (n = 257) received no treatment for 6 months. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Difference in change in HbA1c level from baseline between groups at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included changes in probing pocket depths, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, gingival index, fasting glucose level, and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA2) score. RESULTS: Enrollmentwas stopped early because of futility. At 6 months, mean HbA1c levels in the periodontal therapy group increased 0.17% (SD, 1.0), compared with 0.11% (SD, 1.0) in the control group, with no significant difference between groups based on a linear regression model adjusting for clinical site (mean difference, -0.05% [95% CI, -0.23% to 0.12%]; P = .55). Periodontal measures improved in the treatment group compared with the control group at 6 months, with adjusted between-group differences of 0.28mm (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.37) for probing depth, 0.25mm (95% CI, 0.14 to 0.36) for clinical attachment loss, 13.1% (95% CI, 8.1% to 18.1%) for bleeding on probing, and 0.27 (95% CI, 0.17 to 0.37) for gingival index (P < .001 for all). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Nonsurgical periodontal therapy did not improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis. These findings do not support the use of nonsurgical periodontal treatment in patients with diabetes for the purpose of lowering levels of HbA1c. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00997178

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2523-2532
Number of pages10
JournalJAMA
Volume310
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 18 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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