Characterization of diabetic patients with oral diseases

Background: diabetes mellitus is a risk factor associated with the development of oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.Objective: to characterize the diabetic patients with oral diseases belonging to Doctor's Office # 36 of the “Heroes of Bolivia" Dental Clinic of the health district of "Manuel Piti Fajardo" University Polyclinic of Las Tunas, from April 2017 to February 2019.Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a population made up of the 118 diabetic patients of the aforementioned doctor's office. History taking and oral examination of each patient were performed. The level of knowledge was measured by means of a questionnaire.Results: in the study population the male sex (54,2 %) and the 65 and older age group prevailed (46,6 %). Gingival diseases were frequent (44,9 %), followed by tooth decay (30,5 %). The gingival diseases had more incidence in the female sex, the rest of the oral diseases appeared mostly in the male sex. 84,7 % of the patients presented stress, followed by poor oral hygiene (68,6 %), and smoking (31,4 %), all of them more frequent in the male sex.Conclusions: diabetic patients with oral diseases were characterized in the office where the research was carried out. The need to increase the patients' level of knowledge of the relationship of diabetes with oral health was evidenced.