Caries and Juvenile Onset Diabetes: A Metabolic Viewpoint

Insulin dependent diabetics, unlike controls, showed low caries incidence to age 8 years. Timed, coincidentally perhaps, with the prepubertal growth spurt, the caries rate increases. Except for about 30% of the control sample, who have fewer carious teeth than expected, controls have approximately the caries rate predicted. Variability in caries experience, however, is much greater in diabetics, with more than 50% of the sample having either too many or too few carious teeth. Long term change in caries rate varies for well controlled insulin dependent diabetics and controls. Controls (N = 31) and diabetics (N = 31) in this pilot study ranged in age from 3 to 27 years, and were selected on the basis of good socio-economic level, similar environment, and careful dental care.