The Impact of Severity of Periodontal Bone Loss and the Levels of Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) on the Periodontal Clinical Parameters of the 2017 World Workshop among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Saudi Arabia

Background: Type-2 diabetic patients (uncontrolled levels of glucose blood) usually have periodontal diseases and alveolar bone loss. Objectives: The present study was designed to clarify the impact of severity of periodontal bone loss and the levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) on the periodontal clinical parameters of the 2017 World Workshop among type 2 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia (Saudi and non-Saudi). Material and Methods: This study was done on 298 type 2 diabetic patients, selected from the internship clinics, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. The selection of patients was dependent on the levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and they were categorized into controlled (<7% HbA1c) and uncontrolled type 2 diabetics (>7% HbA1c). All patients were divided according to the severity of periodontal bone loss into three groups, group I: mild periodontal bone loss, group II: moderate periodontal bone loss, and group III: severe periodontal bone loss. Clinical evaluation of periodontal diseases was carried out by clinical parameters according to the 2017 World Workshop. All data were collected and analyzed. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant, and of <0.001 was considered highly significant. Results: The severity of periodontal bone loss were determined in controlled type 2 diabetics (<7% HbA1c) and compared to uncontrolled type 2 diabetics (>7% HbA1c). An increased percentage of patients with severe periodontal bone loss was observed in uncontrolled type 2 diabetics (>7% HbA1c) (42.9%), as compared to controlled type 2 diabetics (<7% HbA1c) (30.5%) without statistically significant (p = 0.251). An increased mean of age, clinical attachment loss (CAL), and percentage of radiographic bone loss (% RBL) were detected in controlled type 2 diabetics (<7% HbA1c), as compared to uncontrolled type 2 diabetics (>7% HbA1c). In contrast, we found an increased mean of plaque control record (PCR), gingival bleeding index (GBI), and periodontal pocket depth (PPD) in uncontrolled type 2 diabetics (>7% HbA1c) more than in controlled type 2 diabetics (<7% HbA1c) without statistically significant (p > 0.05). Moreover, the mean of age, PCR, CAL, % RBL, and PPD were more in the patients with severe periodontal bone loss, as compared to the patients with mild and moderate periodontal bone. Highly statistically significant differences were recorded (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the role of uncontrolled diabetes as a risk factor for the increase in the severity of periodontal bone loss. Thus, we suggest including the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels with periodontal parameters in the evaluation of periodontal bone loss among type 2 diabetics.