Diabetes Periodontitis Bidirectional — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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ModeratePeriodontologyDiabetes Periodontitis BidirectionalORE Part 1

A patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (HbA1c 58 mmol/mol) attends for periodontal assessment. Which statement best describes the relationship between diabetes and periodontitis in current UK practice?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — Each condition can adversely influence control of the other.

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · A = shown as B · E = shown as C · C = shown as D · D = shown as E

A is correct. Diabetes increases susceptibility to periodontitis, particularly when glycaemic control is suboptimal; periodontitis may in turn adversely affect glycaemic control through inflammatory mechanisms. UK NHS England guidance describes this as a bidirectional link and supports timely periodontal care for people with diabetes. Periodontal treatment can produce a modest improvement in HbA1c: a Cochrane review found an absolute reduction of about 0.43% at 3–4 months compared with no treatment or usual care. B is wrong because the association is not limited to type 1 diabetes. C incorrectly denies the reciprocal effect on glycaemic control. D falsely excludes periodontal effects of diabetes. E reverses the recognised adverse association.

Reference: NHS England. Commissioning standard: dental care for people with diabetes, section 2: Executive summary, 2019. https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/commissioning-standard-dental-care-for-people-with-diabetes/