The healing of dental extraction sockets in patients with Type 2 diabetes on oral hypoglycaemics: a prospective cohort.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in delayed healing following dental extractions for Type 2 diabetics on oral hypoglycaemics and non-diabetic patients. METHODS Prospective patients referred for dental extractions were recruited into two groups: known diabetics and non-diabetics with no conditions associated with poor healing. All had a random blood glucose level (BGL). Extractions were performed using local anaesthesia. Delayed healing cases were identified and statistical evaluation performed to identify risk factors. RESULTS There were 224 Type 2 diabetics on oral hypoglycaemics (BGL 7.51, range 4.1-17.4) and 232 non-diabetics. The diabetic group were older, more males and less smokers than the control group. Twenty-eight patients, 12 (5%) diabetic and 16 (7%) control group, had socket healing delayed for more than one week but all healed in four weeks. There were no statistical differences between delayed healing and age, gender, diabetic state, BGL or smoking. The younger control group had more healing problems. CONCLUSIONS The traditional view that diabetics have increased delayed healing was not supported. Type 2 diabetics on oral hypoglycaemics should be treated the same as non-diabetic patients for extractions.