Study links diabetes to higher oral disease risk

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 22. October 2025

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IAȘI, Romania: Diabetes is a growing global public health concern and is closely linked to oral disease. A recent study conducted by researchers in Romania examined the prevalence and distribution of oral and maxillofacial pathologies in patients with diabetes, as well as the correlation between the two. They found that diabetes significantly increases the risk of oral and maxillofacial conditions, highlighting the importance of early screening and preventive care.

According to the World Health Organization, the global burden of diabetes has more than quadrupled over the past three decades—from 200 million in 1990 to 830 million in 2022—driven not only by population growth and ageing but also by rising prevalence in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence shows that diabetes can contribute to oral diseases such as periodontal disease and to a higher risk of tooth loss. Many individuals remain undiagnosed, and research has suggested that dental teams play an important role in early detection of the disease, which can help improve treatment outcomes.

Against this backdrop, the retrospective study analysed 6,868 patients admitted to the oral and maxillofacial surgery department of a hospital in Iași between 2018 and 2024. Among the patients with diabetes (13% of the study cohort), the strength of association between diabetes and malignant oral tumours—expressed as the relative risk—was more than fivefold higher. Periodontal disease showed a similarly strong association. Periapical periodontitis had a more than threefold higher relative risk in patients with diabetes and root remnants about a 1.4-fold higher relative risk. These relative risks provide the clearest indication of how strongly diabetes was linked to each oral or maxillofacial condition in this hospital-based cohort.

The findings underscore the importance of early screening, preventive care and targeted management strategies for patients with diabetes. The authors further stressed that regular dental check-ups and timely treatment are essential to reduce the risk of severe oral and maxillofacial complications in this population.

The study, titled “The correlations between diabetes mellitus and oro-maxillofacial disorders: A statistical perspective”, was published online on 18 August 2025 in Dentistry Journal.