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International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension, two of the most prevalent metabolic disorders worldwide, exert profound and progressive effects on multiple physiological systems. While their systemic complications are well documented, their subtle yet clinically significant impact on oral structures, particularly the dental pulp, remains underexplored.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the functional responsiveness of dental pulp nerves in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension, and to compare the findings with responses from healthy individuals, using an Electric pulp tester (EPT) as a diagnostic tool.

Methods: A total of 600 teeth from 75 adult patients (25 diabetic, 25 hypertensive, and 25 healthy controls) were assessed. Participants were selected via simple random sampling. Pulp sensibility was assessed using an Electric pulp tester, and the threshold response values were recorded and statistically analyzed to identify intergroup variations.

Results: The results revealed a statistically significant difference in pulp sensibility responses among the three groups. Both diabetic and hypertensive patients demonstrated delayed or diminished responses to EPT compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001), indicating potential pulpal hypo-responsiveness associated with systemic vascular and neural alterations.

Conclusion: This study underscores the often-overlooked impact of systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension on pulp health. The findings suggest that dental practitioners should consider altered pulpal sensibility responses as potential indicators of underlying systemic conditions, thereby reinforcing the value of oral diagnostics in holistic patient care.

Additional Files
161838_0R-1-SE_Ethical_Certificate.pdf (423 kB)
Ethical certificate
EPT.docx (76 kB)
statistics
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