Iran: Findings from a systematic review published in the BMC Endocrine Disorders suggest that type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with an increased risk of tooth loss. This implies that in patients with T2D regular dental recall and oral hygiene maintenance are essential to maintain oral health.

The researchers found that in cross-sectional studies there was a positive association between T2D and tooth loss. However, they did not find any significant association between T2D and tooth loss in cohort studies. There is a need for large-scale prospective studies for validating the current results in the future, they noted.

Many previous studies have investigated the relationship between T2D and tooth loss; however, results have been inconsistent. Therefore, Donya Rahebi, Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran, and colleagues designed the systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to examine the association between T2D and tooth loss.
The meta-analysis was conducted on the basis of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guideline. The researchers searched all the relevant studies in the international databases until February 2022. I2 index was used to calculate the heterogeneity of the studies. The results of the study were analyzed using the random-effects model.
A total of 22 eligible studies were included in the study.
The study revealed the following findings:
Meta-analysis of unadjusted and adjusted results showed that T2D significantly increased the risk of tooth loss, and Odds Ratio (OR) unadjusted was 1.87, and OR adjusted was 1.20, respectively.
Subgroup analysis based on study design for adjusted OR indicated that in the cohort study (OR: 1.29), in the cross-sectional study (OR: 1.15), and in the case-control study (OR: 5.10) there was a significant association between T2D and tooth loss.
Other subgroups' analyses showed consistent results and no publication bias existed.
The researchers wrote, "the findings suggest that T2D is associated with increased risk of tooth loss." "This conclusion may provide useful evidence for correlated clinical research."
Reference:
Ahmadinia, A.R., Rahebi, D., Mohammadi, M. et al. Association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and tooth loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Endocr Disord 22, 100 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-022-01012-8