OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on periodontal status, glycemic control and the level of serum interleukin (IL)-6 in type 2 diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis (DMCP).

METHODSFifty-five DMCP and 55 systemically healthy patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) were recruited in this study. The diabetes were classified into two groups, the well-controlled group [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) < 7.00%] and the poorly controlled group (HbA1c ≥ 7.00%). All subjects received non-surgical periodontal therapy. Periodontal clinical parameters including periodontal probing depth(PD), attachment loss (AL), bleeding index (BI) and plaque index (PLI) were recorded at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months after the treatment. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c and the concentration of serum IL-6 were measured.

RESULTSAt 6 weeks and 3 months after treatment, PD, AL, BI, PLI and the concentration of serum IL-6 of both groups significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The level of IL-6 in diabetic patients reduced significantly from (3.47 ± 0.33) ng/L to (3.21 ± 0.66) ng/L and to(3.03 ± 0.54) ng/L. The HbA1c of diabetic patients reduced significantly 3 months after treatment [(6.80 ± 1.21%] compared with the baseline [(7.35 ± 1.73)%, P < 0.05]. HbA1c of the poorly controlled group reduced significantly (P < 0.05), while HbA1c of the well-controlled diabetes did not show any apparent reduction (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNon-surgical periodontal therapy can effectively reduce the concentration of serum IL-6, thereby improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients with chronic periodontitis. However, there was no any significant reduction of HbA1c in the well-controlled diabetes.