Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry (Nov 2021)

Xerostomia, Salivary Flow, and Oral Health Status Among Saudi Diabetic Patients: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

  • Al-Maweri SA,
  • Altayyar MO,
  • AlQahtani KW,
  • Bamasud MS,
  • AlGhamdi OY,
  • Ashraf S,
  • Eshky R,
  • Ba-Hattab R,
  • Kassim S

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 13
pp. 451 – 458

Abstract

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Sadeq A Al-Maweri,1 Manar Omar Altayyar,2 Khalil Wassam AlQahtani,3 Maryam Saleh Bamasud,4 Ohud Yanalah AlGhamdi,5 Sajna Ashraf,6 Rawah Eshky,7 Raidan Ba-Hattab,1 Saba Kassim8 1College of Dental Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 2Department of Dentistry, Nebras Medical Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Endodontics, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Dentistry, Saudi Ministry of Health, Sakaka city, Jouf Region, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Dentistry, Saudi Ministry of Health, Khobar, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Vision Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Sadeq A Al-MaweriCollege of Dental Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, QatarTel +974 33838572Email [email protected]: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with numerous oral complications, including frequent oral infections, periodontal diseases, hyposalivation, and xerostomia. The present study aimed to investigate salivary flow rate, xerostomia, and oral health status among a group of Saudi diabetic patients as compared to healthy controls.Patients and Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study involved 50 diabetic patients (aged between 15 and 70 years) and 53 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Data collection was carried out using a structured questionnaire and clinical examination of oral health status, which included salivary flow rates, saliva pH, tooth loss, plaque accumulation, and gingival health. Independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and chi-square tests were performed to compare between groups.Results: The results revealed a statistically significant lower salivary flow (0.33 ± 0.16 vs 0.59 ± 0.54; p = 0.002) and lower saliva pH (6.36 ± 0.49 vs 6.58 ± 0.39; p = 0.014) in diabetic patients than in the control group. A higher proportion of diabetic subjects (60%) self-reported having xerostomia compared to controls (52%), but the findings were statistically non-significant. Additionally, the results revealed slightly poorer oral health and greater tooth loss among DM patients, although the results did not attain a significant difference (P > 0.05).Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrate poor oral health and a high prevalence of xerostomia among Saudi diabetic patients. Oral health education should therefore be promoted in this group of patients.Keywords: oral health, salivary flow rate, xerostomia, diabetes mellitus

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