The risk of tooth loss in patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

Aim The aim of this systematic review was to comprehensively and critically summarize and synthesize the risk of losing teeth among with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to those without DM, as established in observational studies. Materials and methods MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched through a period from their inception through October 2020 to identify eligible studies. Papers that primarily evaluate the number of teeth in DM patients compared to non-DM individuals were included. A descriptive analysis of the selected studies was conducted, and when feasible, a meta-analysis was performed. The quality of the studies was assessed.

Results A total of 1087 references were generated, and screening of the papers resulted in 10 eligible publications. A descriptive analysis demonstrated that six of these studies indicate a significantly higher risk of tooth loss in DM patients. This was confirmed by the meta-analysis risk ratio of 1.63 95% CI (1.33; 2.00, p

Conclusion There is moderate certainty for a small but significantly higher risk of tooth loss in DM patients as compared to those without DM.