Dental and medical care visits among persons with diabetes in Ontario, Canada, who self-report oral health status.

Periodontal disease is associated with diabetes mellitus and poor overall health. While the biological underpinnings of this relationship have been identified, less is known about the extent to which this relationship is affected by dental and medical care visits. Two studies lead by the primary author (KKP) explored the likelihood of diabetes complications among persons living with diabetes in Ontario, Canada, who were followed prospectively in administrative health data. The results from both studies confirmed that poor to fair self-reported oral health was associated with a greater risk for diabetes complications, and that poor dental and medical care visiting behaviours increased this risk. In general, the findings indicate that a greater number of dental and medical visits had a protective effect on the overall health of persons with diabetes. This discovery has important implications for all health care providers interested in managing oral and systemic health.