Diabetes, Plaque, and Periodontal Disease

Diabetic patients

Patients with diabetes

Increased caries

Higher incidence of tooth decay

Candida infection

Fungal infection caused by Candida

Xerostomia

Dry mouth due to reduced saliva production

Periodontitis

Inflammation and infection of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth

Acquired risk factor

A factor that is not inherent but is acquired and increases the risk of a condition

Disturbance or imbalance

Disruption or lack of equilibrium

GCF

Gingival crevicular fluid, an inflammatory exudate from the periodontal tissues

Inflammatory exudate

Fluid produced during inflammation

GCF flow

Increase in the volume of gingival crevicular fluid

Host defense

Body's immune response to protect against pathogens

Bacterial colonies

Groups of bacteria living together

Metabolites

Chemical byproducts of bacterial metabolism

Sulcus

Space between the tooth and the gum

Basement membrane

Thin layer of tissue that separates the epithelium from the underlying connective tissue

Junctional epithelium

Epithelial tissue that attaches the gingiva to the tooth

Change in habitat

Alteration in the environment where bacteria can grow

Plaque accumulation

Buildup of bacteria and biofilm on the teeth

Opportunistic pathogens

Microorganisms that take advantage of changes in the oral environment to cause disease

Ecological plaque hypothesis

Theory that changes in the oral environment can lead to the growth of disease-causing bacteria

Elevated glucose

High levels of sugar in saliva, blood, and gingival crevicular fluid

Impaired neutrophil function

Reduced ability of white blood cells to fight infection

Dry mouth

Lack of saliva production

Low tissue O2

Decreased oxygen levels in the tissues

Increased CO2 levels

Elevated carbon dioxide levels in the body

AGE

Advanced Glycation Endproducts, proteins or lipids that become glycated after exposure to sugars

Reduced salivary flow

Decreased production of saliva

Mucins/agglutinins

Substances that help bacteria stick together for removal

Lysozyme

Enzyme that damages bacterial cell walls

Lactoferrin

Protein that binds to iron

Histatins

Antimicrobial proteins

Environmental change

Alteration in the oral environment

Subgingival ecology

Microbial community below the gumline

Vascular thickening

Increase in the thickness of blood vessels

Reduced blood flow

Decreased circulation of blood

Capnophiles

Organisms that thrive in high carbon dioxide environments

Tissue damage

Injury to the body's tissues

Phagocyte function

Ability of white blood cells to engulf and destroy pathogens

Chronic hyperglycemia

Persistent high blood sugar levels

Chemotaxis

Movement of cells towards or away from a chemical stimulus

Cytokines

Proteins that regulate immune responses

Bacterially derived peptides

Peptides produced by bacteria

Phagocytosis

Process of engulfing and digesting pathogens by white blood cells

Bactericidal activity

Ability to kill bacteria

AGEs protein

Protein modified by advanced glycation endproducts

Pathophysiological feature

Characteristic related to the abnormal functioning of the body

Glycation

Attachment of sugars to proteins or lipids

Haemoglobin

Protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen

AGE proteins

Proteins modified by advanced glycation endproducts

Enzymes

Biological molecules that catalyze chemical reactions

Long-standing hyperglycemia

Prolonged high blood sugar levels

Glycation end products

Products formed by the attachment of sugars to proteins or lipids

Maillard reaction

Chemical reaction that gives cooked food a brown appearance

Thickening of vasculature

Increase in the thickness of blood vessels

Poor perfusion of tissues

Inadequate blood flow to the tissues

Tissue turnover

Process of replacing old or damaged tissues with new ones

Repair

Restoration of damaged tissues

Glycated haemoglobin

Haemoglobin with attached sugars, a marker for high glucose levels

Diabetic neuropathy

Nerve damage caused by diabetes

Glycation events

Reactions in which sugars attach to proteins or lipids

Myelin sheath

Protective covering around nerve fibers

Macrophages

White blood cells that engulf and destroy pathogens

Axonal degeneration

Breakdown of nerve fibers

Peripheral neurons

Nerve cells outside the brain and spinal cord

Nerve conduction

Transmission of electrical signals along nerve fibers

Diabetic nephropathy

Kidney damage caused by diabetes

Transforming growth factor-b

Protein that stimulates collagen synthesis and thickening of the glomerular basement membrane

Collagen synthesis

Production of collagen, a protein that provides structural support

Glomerular basement membrane

Structure that filters blood in the kidneys

Reduced filtration

Decreased ability of the kidneys to filter waste products

Loss of glomerular function

Impairment of the kidneys' ability to function

Kidney failure

Inability of the kidneys to perform their functions

RAGE

Receptors for advanced glycation endproducts

Immunoglobulin-related proteins

Proteins involved in the immune response

Mononuclear phagocytes

White blood cells that engulf and destroy pathogens

Monocytes

Type of white blood cell

Respiratory burst

Release of reactive oxygen species by cells

Enzymes

Biological molecules that catalyze chemical reactions

Proinflammatory cytokines

Proteins that promote inflammation

Neutrophils

White blood cells that are part of the immune response

Chronic inflammation

Long-term inflammation

Plaque removal

Process of removing dental plaque

Bone resorption

Loss of bone tissue

Gram-negative

Type of bacteria with a specific cell wall structure

Anaerobic

Living or occurring in the absence of oxygen

Proteolytic

Capable of breaking down proteins