Evaluation of the effect of periodontal status on alexithymia, oral health-related quality of life and dental anxiety in patient with diabetes mellitus

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of periodontitis (P) on alexithymia degree, oral health-related quality of life and dental anxiety levels in diabetic patients (DP). Methods: A total of 200 participants were divided into four groups of 50 each: DP with P (DP-P), DP periodontally healthy (DP-PH), systemically healthy with P (SH-P) and both systemically and periodontally healthy (SH-PH). Demographic, diabetes-related and clinical periodontal parameters such as plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded. The degree of alexithymia was rated by toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20). Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was measured using the oral health impact profile(OHIP-14) and oral health quality of life-UK (OHRQoL-UK) questionnaire. Anxiety levels were determined by modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS). Results: Among both DP and SH individuals, there were statistically significantly higher TAS-20, OHIP-14 and MDAS scores; lower OHRQoL-UK scores in patients with P compared to patients who were PH. Among both P and PH individuals, there were no significant differences in TAS-20, OHIP-14, MDAS and OHRQoL-UK between patients with DM and without DM (SH). Conclusion: Periodontitis were positively associated with higher levels of TAS-20, MDAS, OHIP-14 and lower level of OHRQoL-UK in DP or SH groups. DM did not show any additional effect on alexithymia, oral health-related quality of life and dental anxiety in both P and PH patients.