Periodontal status of Finnish adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The periodontal status of 85 12-18 year-old Finnish adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and their paired, age- and sex-matched healthy controls was assessed clinically and radiographically. The clinical examination consisted of plaque index, gingival index (GI), retentive calculus index, WHO community periodontal index of treatment needs, number of pockets greater than or equal to 4 mm and number of surfaces bleeding after probing. Alveolar bone loss was measured interproximally from the first molars in bite-wing radiographs (all subjects) and from the first incisors in periapical X-rays (patients only). The results show that in spite of similar plaque scores, the patients had higher GI scores and more surfaces bleeding after probing. No differences were found in the number of greater than or equal to 4 mm pockets or radiographical bone loss in the first molars.