Prevalence of Undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus Among Dental Patients in Edo State, Nigeria

Diabetes mellitus is a common condition which can lead to medical complications and can have an adverse effect on oral health and health-care. It has been reported that individuals with poor sugar control loose more teeth, have increased incidence of dental anomalies and diseases including periodontitis, dental caries and candida infections.
The study population of 1570 patients attending the dental clinics at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin city, aged 15 - 75 years were screened for urinary glucose using the clinistix dipstick method initially followed by fasting blood sugar.
Over four percent (4.5%) of all the patients showed high glucose level in blood with 42.9% females and 57.1% males. 28.6% of these patients showing high glucose levels were aged 45 to 54years while 57.1% were between 55 and 64years.
About 4.5% of patients were unaware of their diabetic status and its effect on oral structures.
Screening for sugar in urine should be mandatory for all dental patients. All those with sugar in urine should be further screened and referred to the physician if blood levels are high. Health talks about the effect of diabetic condition on the health of oral structures should be given at patients first visit to the dental clinics. All the patients showing high sugar levels should be treated with the care the condition deserves.