Relationship of Periodontal Disease Treatment and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the Gullah Population

Periodontal Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Periodontal Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Gullah African Americans

Our overall hypothesis is that treatment of periodontal disease will produce better diabetes glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin A1c, or HbA1c) and reduced levels of the catalytically active form of matrix metalloproteinase (aMMP-8) in the Gullah African American type 2 diabetes patients living on the Sea Islands of the South Carolina coast. The gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) aMMP-8 levels will be measured through a site-specific, novel noninvasive technique allowing the pathophysiological status of the periodontium tissue to be monitored. The investigators will conduct an interventional study on this population with minimal genetic admixture.

Specific Aim 1: To ascertain the rate of periodontal disease progression on poorly controlled Type 2 diabetic Gullah African American patients as compared to well-controlled Gullah African American patients. The host inflammatory response appears to be the critical determinant for susceptibility and severity of marginal periodontitis especially in systemically compromised individuals13, with diabetic status perhaps increasing host susceptibility to periodontal infection due to impaired immune response14. Patients have been evaluated 6 months to one year prior to periodontal therapy (this evaluation is connected to a previous COBRE project entitled Epidemiological Study of Periodontal Disease and Diabetes by Dr. J. Fernandes). A reevaluation will be made at the time of periodontal therapy. Clinical periodontal parameters and HbA1c levels will be compared. Specific Aim 2: To assess the effects of successful periodontal therapy on the level of glycemic control in this Gullah African American population. Authors addressing whether the treatment of periodontitis or other infections of the oral cavity can improve glycemic control in diabetic patients report contradictory results. We will treat periodontal patients with mechanical therapy (scaling and root planning) and oral hygiene instruction, with or without systemic antibiotic administration (Table 1). The HbA1c, fasting glucose and clinical periodontal parameters will be evaluated prior to the periodontal intervention, and at 3 and 6 months after therapy. We plan to continue to recruit, enroll and assess new patients from the Gullah African American community living on the Sea Islands of the South Carolina coast for future research projects Specific Aim 3: To assess the concentration of the catalytically active form of MMP-8 at baseline (prior to periodontal intervention) and at 3 and 6 months later. Polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte-derived MMP-8 is predominantly present in periodontitis-affected GCF9,15-16. Analysis of GCF for aMMP-8 could provide a novel useful noninvasive technique to assess and monitor the pathophysiological status of the periodontium tissue in a site-specific manner9-10.

Participants by arm