Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download
ePaper created 2018-04-10, 12:30:21 | version 1.38.0
| news Periodontal treatment achieves Improved control of type 2 diabetes the connection between Several studies have indicated a probable associ- ation between poor oral health and type 2 diabetes, and it was found that if uncon- trolled it leads to gingivitis and peri- odontitis. Spanish researchers have now discovered further evidence for periodontitis and type 2 diabe- tes. Their recent study “Bene- fi ts of non-surgical periodon- tal treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic periodontitis (…)” showed that control of type 2 diabetes improved notably after the patient underwent scaling and root planing using ultrasound and curettage. Head of the study Dr Miguel Viñas, Profes- sor of Microbiology at the University of Barcelona © Syda Productions / S h u t t e r s t o c k . c o m stated that a relation does not only exist between going from diabetes to periodontal diseases, but also from periodontal disease to dia- betes. 90 patients with type 2 diabe- tes participated in the research and were randomly assigned to either the treatment or the control group. Treatment group partic- ipants received oral hygiene instructions and underwent scaling and root treatment. “The main conclusion of the study that non-surgical treatment of periodontitis im- proves the glycaemic status and the levels of glycated haemoglo- bin, and therefore proves the great importance of oral health in diabetic patients,” summarised Prof. José López, medical director of the university’s dental clinic. is Only small adjustments needed to Better treatment of autistic children Treatment of autistic children can be challenging even for experienced clinicians. According to research of the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, key factors for a less stressful visit to the dental practice were how confi dent parents behaved and how good the communication between parents and treatment staff was. Supported by the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leader- ship in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula, the research was conducted in partnership with the Peninsula Cerebra Research Unit (PenCRU) and members of the PenCRU Family Faculty, a group of parents of disabled children. Based on interviews with parents of autistic children, the study found that they particularly reacted to negative feelings and the atti- tudes of those around them in the treatment room. In addition, it was found that parents should feel confi dent to advocate for their child’s individual needs, as well as help dental professionals understand the small changes they could incorporate to make a big difference. If the children were given a say about small things involved in their treatment, e.g. the colour of mouthwash or brightness of the lights, their experience was signifi cantly better. Furthermore, clear referral pathways to specialist dental services will be needed to avoid any delay and distress for fam- ilies whose children are not yet able to cope with conventional dental settings. 48 1 2018 © Octa corp/Shutterstock.com