Considerazioni sul trattamento ortodontico nei pazienti affetti da diabete mellito: revisione della letteratura = Considerations about diabetes mellitus and orthodontic treatment: a review

OBJECTIVES. Diabetes mellitus is a frequent disease and its prevalence is constantly increasing. Therefore dentists will be treating a growing number of patients with the disease. The aim of this work was to make a review of the literature about the influence of diabetes mellitus on orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS. University textbooks and scientific articles published on Medline between 1980 and 2013 were considered. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. Orthodontic treatment of the diabetic patient is strictly connected to periodontal health and to metabolic control of the disease: in case of poor control, orthodontic therapy is contraindicated. If diabetes is well controlled, patients can be treated orthodontically, provided that they keep the best oral hygiene conditions in order to prevent periodontal damage.