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

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.

Inclusion criteria

• Gullah African Americans;
• With type 2 diabetes mellitus defined according to the American Diabetes Association criteria;

Other inclusion criteria are presented under each Specific Aim:

• AIM 1: Participants who have received oral, dental, periodontal, diabetes and genotype assessment through enrollment in Dr. J. Fernandes' COBRE project.
• AIM 2 and 3: Participants with severe chronic periodontitis, as defined by at least one tooth surface with probing depth (PD)≥5mm.

Exclusion criteria

• Severe concurrent illnesses / conditions that would limit their daily life or require extensive systemic treatment, such as malignancy, severe cardiovascular disease, organ transplant, or inadequate understanding due to mental disorders;
• Finger stick blood glucose measurement of more than 350mg/dl or less than 70mg/dl after second measurement;
• Systolic blood pressure of more than 180mm Hg or diastolic pressure of more than 100mm Hg;
• Fasting serum C-peptide < 1ng/ml (documentation or test);
• Serum creatinine ≥ 1.6mg/dl;
• Abnormal hepatic function;
• Hemoglobinopathy (sickle cell trait/hemolytic anemia) interfering with HbA1c monitoring;
• Other underlying illness/conditions which, in the doctor's judgment, may prevent patient from adherence to the study protocol;
• Unwillingness to sign the informed consent form or enter the study;
• Pregnant women;
• Patients in need of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures or patients that have been treated with any kind of antibiotics in the past 3 months.