Unawareness about the importance of oral health and ignorance of dental health issues which, if not taken care of, gradually lead to serious morbidity affecting the whole body. As we all know, Diabetes has emerged as one of the biggest diseases in India in the past few decades due to its multifactorial etiology. We witnessed a steep rise in the prevalence of diabetes from 2% to 20% in the last three decades.

Diabetes is a condition in which either the body does not make enough insulin or body cells are not able to utilize insulin adequately thus resulting in increased blood sugar levels(also known as hyperglycemia). Uncontrolled hyperglycemia cause various health problems like

•    Damage to vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke
•    Kidney disease
•    Vision problems
•    Nerve problems

Tooth pain is usually acute, severe and throbbing in nature, and at times sadly leads to sleepless nights. Scientific studies have shown that regardless of the cause, pain makes diabetes self-management mechanism of the body much more difficult and often leads to higher glucose levels. Even the Center for disease control and prevention states that ‘even just one night of too little sleep can make your body use insulin less efficiently.

Recurrent episodes of pain and sleepless nights might increase sugar levels. The most common cause of toothache is tooth decay approaching the tooth nerve. If left untreated, the infection doesn’t stay in the tooth itself and spreads into the periodontal ligament space and bone. In patients with low immune response, infection further progresses to gums and face in the form of swelling. Increased sugar levels and their deleterious effects on gum health are directly proportional. Scientific studies have shown that patients with poor gum health also reported elevated sugar levels. High blood sugar may also cause dry mouth thus resulting in more tooth decay.

Root canal treatment is a procedure in which we clean the infected tooth, disinfect the root canal and seal that space with the inert filling material.

Single sitting RCT vs Multiple visits RCT?

Earlier RCT was done in multiple appointments. With the advancements in technology and equipment, single sitting RCT came into existence and is the most preferred method nowadays. Studies have shown that Single sitting RCT reduces the risk of inter-appointment infection, decreases the post-procedure pain or discomfort and in teeth with apical infection increased healing rate as well as compared to multiple visits RCT.

Oral health, an inevitable part of overall health, should be given priority. The maintenance of oral health ensures the good health of the entire body. Scientific research still has to prove whether treating a tooth infection can help to control diabetes. However, it’s of utmost importance to keep good oral hygiene by self-maintenance and by routine visits to the dentist.

If you have any queries feel free to contact us at completedentalsoutions@gmail.com