January 16, 2025. The Daily Reflector. By Baldwin Bell.
As a type I diabetic, it took 22 years and admittance into dental school for me to learn that diabetics are more susceptible to periodontal disease and the malicious effects it has on the oral cavity.
Studies from the National Institutes of Health emphasize that the risk of periodontitis is increased approximately threefold in diabetic individuals compared with non-diabetic individuals.
Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue around teeth and, if left untreated, can destroy the bone supporting one’s teeth, causing teeth to loosen or leading to tooth loss.
As a third-year student at the ECU School of Dental Medicine, I treat a diverse background of patients, many of whom have been diagnosed with diabetes. Without question, I automatically feel a deeper connection with these diabetic patients and make sure they have eaten prior to the appointment, have checked their blood glucose and intend follow up with their physicians for quarterly A1C checks. This strengthened connection has also compelled me to allocate time to educate them on the effects their diet and diabetes can have on their periodontal health.
Close to 38.4 million people within the U.S. have diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed), and many lack the knowledge of how their condition can impact their oral health. For most of my diabetic patients, these educational conversations are no longer about preventative strategies to avoid periodontal disease but more so discussing treatment options to counteract their active case of periodontitis.
Unfortunately, millions of Americans living with diabetes will needlessly lose their teeth, spend thousands in therapeutic dental treatments and unnecessarily live in chronic oral pain due to a preventable disease. Small, seemingly simple conversations can shift perspectives and empower individuals to take control of their oral health. Yet, for too many diabetic individuals, this vital information is either inaccessible or overlooked in their broader healthcare experience.
To think, if these diabetic patients were informed and equipped with the knowledge to combat the progression of periodontal disease, this could lead to better overall holistic health and a healthier smile.
To make a difference, it begins simply by raising awareness and educating our diabetic patients and their loved ones — whether that be from their endocrinologist, physician or dentist. It is our responsibility to keep our patients informed and healthy.
Imagine dental professionals being trained to recognize the signs of uncontrolled diabetes in their patients and medical providers routinely including oral health in their discussions with diabetic patients. The impact and long-term benefits could be transformative in diabetic populations.
Awareness starts with advocacy, and we must do our part as caring clinicians to create a better, more convenient integrated health care system to ensure our diabetic patients are educated about the implications the chronic disease can have on their bodies and oral health.
There is a need for a more refined and collaborative health care system, and it is blatantly obvious that, for the sake of our patients, we must bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry.
Baldwin Bell is a 2024-25 N.C. Schweitzer Fellow and a member of the ECU School of Dental Medicine’s Class of 2026.