Diabetes risk factor identified in dental calculus
The composition of dental calculus could predict diabetes mellitus.
In a study published in BMC Oral Health, researchers used scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to examine the biochemical markers present in the dental calculus samples of 57 participants with and without Type 2 diabetes.
Compared with the samples collected from controls, the samples collected from the participants with Type 2 diabetes had higher levels of potassium, slightly higher levels of oxygen and lower levels of both calcium and phosphorus. The researchers identified potassium in all of the samples from the Type 2 diabetes group, representing the element’s potential to be used as a biomarker for diabetes.
Because patients with diabetes are often at an increased risk of developing periodontal disease, the researchers emphasized how cost-effective and noninvasive strategies to identify Type 2 diabetes like dental calculus removal could be feasibly incorporated into regular dental care.
Read more: BMC Oral Health
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