Diabetes mellitus may increase bone loss after occlusal trauma and experimental periodontitis.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) involves metabolic changes that can negatively influence periodontal tissues, resulting in more prevalent and severe periodontitis and impaired bone formation. Occlusal trauma (OT) is an injury of the supportive periodontium that results in bone loss. It can be hypothesized that DM would increase bone loss after OT, mainly when associated with periodontitis. Thus, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of DM on bone response in the furcation area of teeth subjected to OT in the presence, or absence, of experimental periodontitis (EP) in the rat model.
Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: 1) group 1 (G1): DM+OT+EP (n = 8); 2) group 2 (G2): DM+OT (n = 8); 3) group 3 (G3): OT+EP (n = 8); and 4) group 4 (G4): OT (n = 8). G1 and G2 received a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). After 10 days, G1 and G3 were subjected to EP by ligature placement. Fifteen days after the start of EP, OT was induced by the creation of a premature contact. The animals were euthanized 35 days after DM induction.
Results: DM enhanced bone loss in the presence of OT combined with EP, but did not increase bone loss in teeth subjected to OT alone. EP caused greater bone loss when associated with OT.
Conclusion: Within the limits of this animal study, it can be concluded that DM enhances bone loss in the presence of occlusal trauma associated with EP.