Orthodontic Considerations in Diabetic Patients:A Review

Orthodontic patients traditionally had comprised of only the young and healthy people. With its gaining awareness, elder patients with systemic disorders have also been seeking treatment. This means, an increased number of diabetic patients also report to the orthodontic office. Diabetes mellitus is defined as “a chronic, progressive metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycaemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, action or both”. Thus, it becomes necessary for the orthodontist to have knowledge pertaining to the types, cardinal signs, and oral manifestations of diabetes mellitus and keep them in mind while planning for orthodontic treatment. This article reviews in detail Diabetes mellitus from its historical perspective, prevalence, classification, cardinal signs, pathogenesis, oral manifestations, and the management options to be considered in terms of–before and during treatment along with the emergencies that might pop up in case such a patient is undergoing treatment in an orthodontic set-up.