The relationship between xerostomia and periodontal status in patients with cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the correlation between patients' subjective perception of xerostomia and their periodontal status and to examine the potential association of this correlation with cardiometabolic disorders. Methodology: A total of 147 patients (40 systemically healthy, 33 with cardiovascular disease [CVD], 40 with type 2 diabetes, and 34 with cardiometabolic disease [CVD + diabetes]) who came to Necmettin Erbakan University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology for periodontal treatment and agreed to participate were included in the study. Sociodemographic information, tooth brushing frequency, systemic disease status, and clinical periodontal parameters (plaque index [PI], gingival index [GI], bleeding on probing [BOP], and mean pocket depths) were recorded. Patients were asked to complete an 11-item subjective xerostomia inventory questionnaire. Results: In the findings of our study, there was no statistically significant correlation between xerostomia total score and mean pocket depths, PI, GI, and BOP (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean values of xerostomia total score according to systemic disease groups (p=0.654). There is a statistically significant difference between the mean values of xerostomia total score according to periodontal status groups (p=0.002). The mean xerostomia total score was 20.19 in periodontally healthy patients, 24.42 in gingivitis patients, and 22.73 in periodontitis patients. Conclusion: Although the results suggest that subjective dry mouth findings are associated with gingivitis, they do not affect pocket depth and do not increase susceptibility to periodontitis. Clinicians should emphasize the risk of gingivitis in patients with dry mouth and the importance of prevention. How to cite this article: Babayiğit O, Ögütcen Ö, Özkan Şen D, Taştan Eroğlu Z, Uçan Yarkaç F. The relationship between xerostomia and periodontal status in patients with cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Int Dent Res. 2024; 14(S1):21-27. https://doi.org/10.5577/indentres.556