Prevalence of tooth wear diseases in patients with diabetes and its impact on the quality of life in Dakshina Kannada population: a cross sectional study

Introduction

People are keeping more natural teeth as they live longer lives. It is vital to have healthy, functional teeth when eating and following a regular diet. Tooth wear (TW), on the other hand, has a detrimental influence on the survival of natural teeth. TW, also known as tooth surface loss (TSL), has recently been identified as a serious oral health concern.^1–3 TW is an insidious, multifactorial disease that affects enamel and dentine, and it may endanger tooth survival and the quality of life linked with dental health among those who are affected.⁴ Epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that TW is growing increasingly severe and frequent, not just among older adults but also among those approaching adulthood.^5,6 The three most often recognized aetiologies of TW are erosion, attrition, and abrasion.⁶ Abfraction, the fourth aetiological factor, has been acknowledged by some but is not accepted by all.⁶ These are associated with a variety of clinical symptoms. Given the aetiology's complexity, a definitive diagnosis may be difficult to achieve. TW influences both aesthetics and functionality.

Patients suffering with TW seek dental care as a result. The chemical breakdown of enamel or dentine produced by non-bacterial acids from dietary or gastric sources is known as erosion. The first stage is characterized by dull “silky glazed” enamel surfaces and enamel loss. The palatal surfaces of the maxillary anterior teeth are affected because the tongue and buccal mucosa shelter the other surfaces from exposure to stomach acid in the early stages of gastric erosion.⁶ Dietary erosion is characterized by widespread cupped-out lesions, with the pattern being unique to the individual's habits and diet.

Attrition is a gradual deterioration of tooth structure caused by tooth-to-tooth contact in the absence of a foreign object. It often affects the incisal/occlusal region of the teeth.⁷ Abrasion is the mechanical wear out of tooth structure that does not require tooth-to-tooth contact, a problem that commonly affects the cervical area of the teeth and is generally caused by poor tooth brushing practices that remove acid-weakened enamel and dentine.⁷

Diabetes mellitus, one of the most common diseases on a regional and international scale, is a major cause of morbidity in most countries.^8,9 Diabetes is increasing in prevalence worldwide. According to data from the International Federation of Diabetes, 642 million people worldwide will have diabetes by 2040, up from 415 million in 2015. More than 60% of the worldwide population living with diabetes are in Asia, where the prevalence ranges from 3% to 47.3%.¹ Diabetes affects almost 1.3 billion people in India, which has the world's second-highest incidence. According to the International Diabetes Federation, 72.9 million individuals in India had diabetes in 2017.

Diabetes prevalence has risen rapidly and is expected to rise further as a result of the rapid and continuous socioeconomic upheaval in developing countries. Diabetes types 1 and 2 (T2DM) are becoming increasingly frequent. T2DM, the most common type of diabetes, has been the primary driver to the global rise in diabetes prevalence.¹⁰ Diabetes increases the risk of oral disease both directly and indirectly.¹¹ Periodontal disease affects around one-third of individuals with diabetes. Periodontitis can cause tooth loss or sensitivity.¹¹ Different oral diseases or issues impact daily life in a variety of ways. There have not been many studies done on wasting diseases and how they affect people's quality of life. As a result, while assessing dental requirements, clinical and psychological factors must be considered.

Patients with diabetes make up the majority of those for whom dental practitioners utilize oral health prevention and promotion to achieve optimal oral and overall health. The incidence, severity, and underlying causes of tooth wear should be understood by dental practitioners. As a result, it is critical to research the frequency and severity of tooth wear among patients with diabetes, as well as how it impacts the quality of life of the general Dakshina Kannada community. Thus, the present research aimed to explore the prevalence of tooth wear in adults with diabetes in Dakshina Kannada population.

Methods

From 29^th July 2022 to September 2022, this cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Periodontology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences Mangalore. The study protocol was submitted to the Manipal College of Dental Sciences Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India's institutional ethics and review board (protocol no: 22023; approval date 28/07/22). Convenient sampling method was followed for the recruitment of the study participants. The patients who visited OPD of Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore during the study period were recruited in the study. Before joining the study, each study participant signed an informed consent form. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 236 people completed the clinical examination and questionnaire.

Results

The current study included 236 individuals with diabetes in total. There were 171 men (72.50%) and 65 women (27.50%). In total, five (2.10%) of the participants were homemakers, whereas 53 (22.50%) worked in various occupations. A total of 108 (45.80%) were self-employed, while 65 (27.50%) were professionals (Table 1). Overall, 14 (5.90%) of the study participants had diabetes and hypertension. A total of 136 (57.60%) of research participants used oral hypoglycaemic medication; 48 (20.30%) were using insulin, and 52 (22.00%) were taking ayurvedic drugs (Table 1).

In total, 98 (41.50%) individuals had excellent (4-6) previous HbA1C readings, 130 (55.10%) had good (7-8) levels, and eight (3.40%) had bad (9-14) levels (Table 1). Overall six (2.50%) people had no dental concerns. Around 230 participants in the research had different oral conditions (Figure 1). Around three (1.30%) of the 236 research participants had hopeless teeth or teeth with a poor prognosis. The bulk of the study population (134 (56.80%)) followed a mixed diet; 62 were vegetarians (26.30%). Among the research participants, 65 (27.50%) used horizontal strokes, while 134 (56.80%) used mixed strokes. A total of 229 (97.00%) of the research participants brushed their teeth twice every day for less than 2 minutes. Whereas seven (3.00%) cleaned their teeth twice every day for more than 2 minutes (Table 2).

Figure 1. Various dental problems among the study participants.

In total, 53 (22.50%) of the research participants used dental floss. Aerated drinks were consumed by 152 people (64.40%). Aerated drinks were consumed on a weekly basis by 150 people (63.60%). Attrition, abrasion, and erosion are examples of wasting diseases; 223 (94.50%) of the study participants had different types of wasting diseases. Erosion was seen in 228 cases (96.60%), whereas abrasion was observed in 221 cases (93.60%) (Table 3 and Figure 2). The presence of wasting diseases and the severity was recorded in the oral examination. The participants gained awareness regarding the wasting diseases by their dentists or through newspapers, and magazines. Approximately 96 (40.70%) of the research participants reported sensitivity to hot and cold meals. A total of 96 (40.70%) of the participants reported sensitivity as a result of their teeth becoming thin, short, and structurally damaged. Around 32 (13.60%) of the research participants would grind their teeth. The majority of the participants last went to the dentist one or two years ago. Overall, 129 research participants (54.70%) brushed their teeth twice every day (Table 2). The fundamental erosive tooth index was seen in 73 (30.90%) of the cases. There was an early loss of surface tooth structure in 81 (34.30%), and in 82 (34.70%) participants (Table 3). Each participant thoroughly filled out the questionnaire regarding their quality of life (Table 4 and Figure 3). Chewing food was challenging for 147 (91.90%) of the subjects. Responses were grouped into three sections (neutral, agree/strongly agree, disagree/strongly disagree) (Figure 3 and Table 4). The association between tooth wear and diabetes and its impact on quality of life was assessed. The result showed statistical significance between the mild to severe BEWE group (Table 5).

Figure 2. Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) score among study participants.

Figure 3. Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) score among study participants.

Discussion

The current study looked at the prevalence of tooth wear and its influence on the quality of life of those with diabetes. Responses were received from male and female participants ranging in age from 18 to 80 years old, as in previous investigations.^1,4 According to Bartlett et al., more male patients than female patients are sent to the dentist with concerns of TW.⁷ This was consistent with the findings of the current study.^1,7 There is no evidence that men and women have distinct tooth forms or saliva compositions. The reasons of TW are numerous.

A study by Srisilapanan et al. (2018), like ours, covered participants with type 2 diabetes between the ages of 35 and 74 years old. Patients with diabetes had a higher incidence of tooth loss, which is consistent with previous research.¹ According to data from the American Dental Association,¹¹ diabetes is responsible for one out of every five tooth loss cases. According to the most current research, the most common kind of TW was attrition, which is consistent with previous findings.¹ Study participants in the present study had a greater rate of TW, which was consistent with previous research.¹ The severity of minor TW and age were shown to be substantially associated.

Diabetes and periodontitis are two exceedingly frequent chronic, noncommunicable diseases that pose severe public health problems for the worldwide population. For a long time, dental specialists have recognized that these two diseases are linked. Periodontitis is known as the sixth complication of diabetes. Diabetes raises the risk of periodontitis by increasing inflammation in periodontal tissues.¹³ Participants in the research had gingivitis, periodontitis, decay, and other dental disorders. The inability to maintain excellent oral hygiene may be related to the challenges (sensitivity and discomfort) caused by wasting disorders.

Diabetes and periodontal disease treatment need a lifelong strategy tailored to the patient's individual circumstances. The majority of survey participants used mixed and horizontal strokes to clean their teeth. This must be corrected because it is a common occurrence and a substantial factor to wasting sickness. Any oral health promotion program must include tooth brushing instruction since it improves people's oral health knowledge, attitudes, and habits. Individuals may use it to construct customised dental care programs for themselves. The research participants had moderate to high scores on the basic erosive tooth index. The study looked at how tooth decay affects people's quality of life. Patients who had moderate to severe TW had a worse quality of life. If monitoring TW is made required at every clinical examination, it is less likely that it will be neglected. Every visit should include a TW evaluation to reduce the likelihood of patients’ early warning signs going ignored and no preventative steps being implemented. Dental practitioners should pay attention to their patients’ clinical features and how they affect their patients’ quality of life. On the basis of demand, specialized, preventative, or rehabilitative treatment should be made available. OHIP-14 can be used to quantify the impact of oral diseases on important elements of daily living.³ Traditional or professionally developed assessment methods for evaluating tooth wear may be utilized to prioritize treatment for individuals who require it the most urgently.^14,15

Further study is needed to discover how each of these clinical characteristics influences quality of life. By doing so, it may be feasible to identify the elements that have the greatest impact on people's lives. Future research should look at the link between dental hypersensitivity, aesthetics, tooth deterioration, and quality of life.

Several strategies may be used to assess the severity of various oral disorders in the population. They are often used in the community to minimize the occurrence of diseases and other ailments. The current study used an instrument such as the OHIP-14 to assess the prevalence of TW and its impact on well-being in diabetes. This is supported by other material that is currently available.^16,17

Conclusions

In conclusion, the findings of this study provide evidence for the consequences of dental wear disorders in patients with diabetes and their implications on the standard of life of adults in the Dakshina Kannada community. Setting a goal and combining planning and self-monitoring in specific instructions will help you mark the behaviour change more successfully. These people may benefit from regular dental checkups and rigorous adherence to oral hygiene regulations. Future studies should concentrate on this topic.