Diabetes Diabetes Diabetes Diabetes Diabetes Periodontal disease Oral health Oral health Periodontal disease

Abstract

Both the dental and medical specialists during the First Systemic Health Round Table Discussion agreed that if more were known about the mechanism and prevalence of this problem, diabetic patients could be warned they were more susceptible to gingivitis and periodontitis. The awareness of diabetic patients about the connection between oral and systemic health needs to be enhanced, so potential dental problems can be identified and prevented through improved oral hygiene. Public awareness is particularly important because periodontal disease is becoming increasingly common. In addition, improving oral health can improve patients' quality of life, which has become a major issue, particularly in the developed world. However, data and awareness on the link between oral and systemic health needs to be enriched. Participants in the First Systemic Health Round Table Discussion included eminent diabetes specialists from the public and private medical communities, members of Diabetes Hongkong, a local charitable o r g a n i z a t i o n a i m e d a t i m p r o v i n g awareness and understanding of diabetes via public education, and experts and periodontologists from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong.