Abstract
BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontitis are chronic conditions with a well-established bidirectional relationship. This interaction not only worsens periodontitis severity but also complicates glycemic control. We aimed to determine whether nonsurgical periodontal treatment reduces glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels at 3 and 6 months in type II diabetic patients with periodontal disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this sequential case-control study conducted at the University Dental Clinic in Murcia, Spain, we enrolled thirty diabetic patients. Participants were allocated to either a test group (receiving comprehensive periodontal treatment with scaling and root planing) or a control group (receiving supragingival plaque removal only). Both groups received oral hygiene instructions. We evaluated periodontal parameters (HI, GBI, PPD, CAL) and HbA1c levels at baseline, 3, and 6 months, analyzing data with repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: The periodontal treatment group demonstrated statistically significant reductions in HbA1c levels at both 3 and 6 months post-treatment (p < 0.05). In contrast, we observed no significant changes in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that periodontal disease associates with elevated HbA1c levels in diabetic patients. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment significantly reduces both periodontal inflammation and HbA1c levels at 3 and 6 months, supporting its integration into comprehensive diabetes management.