Microsoft word - dental care guidelines 0909.doc

Dental Care Guidelines
Self-care
Diabetes patients must maintain a rigorous oral self-care regimen to minimize oral health problems
that may complicate glycemic control since the mouth is the first part of the digestive process.
Regular visits (generally twice a year) to their dentist for a dental examination and dental prophylaxis
and necessary radiographs are recommended to achieve an optimal oral health status. This rate of
dental visitation is dependent on the patient’s oral health status. Regular brushing and flossing are
essential to keep the teeth and gums healthy. A history of stroke or musculoskeletal disorders might
necessitate the use of other mechanical or electric dental devices to accomplish optimal goals of oral
health.

Dental Problems
The major oral health complications of diabetes are: periodontal disease, salivary gland disorders,
oral soft tissue infections, and possibly caries (dental decay). The quality and extent of these
problems are largely dependent on the level of glycemic control, the age of the patient, prior history
and length of time of medical or dental problems, and the dental IQ or self-efficacy of the patient.
Furthermore, medications may by themselves cause oral health problems such as gingival
hyperplasia and xerostomia. Aggressive management of these dental problems and optimal oral
self-care by the patient is necessary to minimize the impact on glycemic control and the patient’s
quality of life.

Medical Complications
Bone, thyroid, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, cognitive, and psychosocial complications and some
of the therapeutic regimens all have varying oral health implications. Both bone and thyroid metabolic
disturbances have oral health implications. Gastrointestinal problems such as GERD may cause
enamel erosion. Musculoskeletal changes and tooth loss will affect the ability to masticate and
patients will shift their diets to softer foods. Cognitive problems will influence the ability of the patient
to comprehend the caregiver’s instructions and provide self-care. Bulimia will cause enamel erosion
and dental decay. These problems have been shown to worsen the oral condition. Patients with
these conditions should be asked about their oral health status and encouraged to seek dental
preventative care.

Denture Care
Many patients that wear dentures feel that once their teeth are gone there is no need to seek further
dental care. This could not be further from the truth. Individuals with dentures normally lose chewing
function by over 50%. These patients need yearly oral examinations. This includes evaluating the
oral structures for soft tissue infections, denture sores, and an oral cancer screening examination.
Members of the Diabetes Care Team should ask these patients to remove their dentures to assess fit
and function and whether prompt dental referral is needed. Debris, calculus, broken teeth or acrylic
base cracks are some indicators that there is a problem. Worn or loose dentures or those that are
over five years old should be replaced. Some loose dentures can be relined or rebased to improve
the fit if the teeth if they are in good shape. A self-care regimen of daily tissue scrubs using a
washcloth and toothpaste maintains the underlying gum tissue in good health. The dentures should
be removed nightly, cleaned using a denture brush and toothpaste, and stored in water. Denture
cleaning tablets may be used 2-3 times a week. Coffee, tea, and tobacco use tend to heavily stain a
denture. Dentures can also accumulate plaque and calculus. Candida infections may be due to a
combination of a poor fitting prosthesis or poor host immune response. Treatment of Candida
involving a prosthesis should include soaking the prosthesis in Nystatin solution daily and the use of
the rinse orally (swish and swallow) or if it persists utilize Diflucan. Ensuring that a denture has an
optimal fit and comfort will help the patient improve glycemic control and achieve the goals of medical
nutrition therapy.

Source: http://www.123actionnow.org/pdfs/4_Adult_Dental_care_Sheet.pdf