Ĭhronic and poorly managed diabetes affects an individual’s cardiovascular, renal, optical, neurological and oral health. The economic burden of diabetes to the Australian economy is estimated to be over $6 billion annually. In Australia, around 1.2 million individuals are diagnosed with diabetes, with more than 10,000 new cases identified every year. The global prevalence of diabetes was 8.5% in 2014, and it is predicted that approximately 700 million people will be living with diabetes by 2045. Diabetes is considered a significant global health issue and is referred to as the world’s largest non-communicable epidemic. Further validation against comprehensive dental assessments is needed to reassess the tool’s specificity and sensitivity in diverse settings.ĭiabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) due to insulin deficiency or insulin resistance. This is a simple, accessible tool that diabetes care providers could incorporate into their routine consultations. The three-item screening tool developed was found to be valid and sensitive in identifying risk of poor oral health, requiring oral health referrals, among people with diabetes in this pilot. No single item performed as well regarding sensitivity and negative predictive value when compared to the three items collectively. ResultsĪ statistically significant correlation was found between the shorter screening tool and the OHIP-14 (rho = 0.453, p < 0.001), indicating adequate validity. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were then undertaken comparing the results of the two tools. As part of the survey, participants completed the three-item screening tool and a 14-item validated tool, the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), which has been used previously in the preliminary validation of screening tools. The tool was then piloted as part of a larger cross-sectional survey of 260 adults with diabetes who were accessing public diabetes clinics at two locations in Sydney, Australia.
MethodsĪ three-item screening tool was developed after a comprehensive review of the literature and consensus from an expert panel. Thus, this study aimed to develop and pilot a short oral health screening tool that would identify risk of existing oral diseases and encourage appropriate referrals to the dental service. Existing screening tools are difficult to incorporate into routine diabetes consultations due to their length. However, valid and reliable oral health screening tools that assess the risk of poor oral health, that are easy to administer among non-dental professionals, currently do not exist. Diabetes care providers, including general practitioners and diabetes educators, are encouraged to promote oral health of their clients. Periodontal disease that is not effectively managed can affect glycaemic levels.
People with poorly managed diabetes are at greater risk of periodontal disease.
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