Etiology: local and systemic risk factors, smoking, diabetes
Periodontology · Dental (BDS)
Study notes
A diabetic smoker's gum treatment keeps failing. Why do these two factors matter so much? Smoking constricts blood vessels (hiding bleeding while impairing healing) and diabetes weakens immune defence against plaque bacteria - together they accelerate bone loss and blunt treatment response. Worse, periodontitis raises blood sugar, creating a two-way cycle. Students learn: address the risk factors (smoking cessation, sugar control) alongside gum therapy.