Oral health promotion among adults with diabetes in Finland

Abstract

Objectives: In the present community trial, changes in oral health among adults with diabetes in Finland were assessed in three differing intervention groups and in a control group. The goal of intervention was to promote periodontal health.

Methods: The study population comprised of 120 adults with diabetes, who were regular patients at the Salo Regional Hospital Diabetes Clinic in Salo, Finland. All underwent periodontal examination in 1999 and 2001. The percentage of dropouts was 4%. Outcome measures were visible plaque, presence of calculus, and the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) index calculated for each tooth separately. Oral-health-related factors were determined by a questionnaire. Intervention based on the recommended treatment interval was carried out in the following groups: diabetes nurse-letter-reminder group (n = 26), diabetes nurse-reminder group (n = 31), letter-reminder group (n = 30), and a control group (n = 28).

Results: A significant decrease occurred in the visible plaque index between 1999 and 2001 in all groups, and in calculus index in the diabetes-nurse-reminder group and in the letter-reminder group. During the study period, only in the control group, the CPITN index codes 3 and 4, calculated for each tooth separately, increased.

Conclusion: These positive results emphasize the potential of existing health-care actions for promoting periodontal health. With minimal recourse demands, it was possible to increase oral health behaviors and periodontal health among patients with diabetes.