Diabetes Effects on Dental Pulp Health
Summary
Diabetes mellitus can compromise the vitality and function of the dental pulp through multiple interrelated mechanisms. Chronic hyperglycaemia fosters oxidative stress, inflammatory infiltrates and microvascular damage in the pulp chamber, impairing the regenerative capacity of odontoblasts and resident stem cells. Concomitant alterations in neurotrophic factors and dysregulated signalling pathways predispose pulp tissue to fibrotic transformation, calcifications and even necrosis. Advanced glycation end-product formation and endothelial dysfunction further compromise blood flow within the pulp’s dense microcirculation, increasing ischaemic risk. Collectively, these changes undermine dentine repair, diminish pain perception thresholds and elevate the likelihood of pulp necrosis and periapical pathology. Understanding these processes is critical for optimising endodontic treatment strategies and preventive care in diabetic patients worldwide.
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Diabetes Effects on Dental Pulp Health publication trend
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Technical terms
Hyperglycaemia: Elevated blood glucose levels characteristic of diabetes mellitus.
Oxidative stress: Imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defences causing cellular damage.
Odontoblast: Specialist cell lining the pulp chamber responsible for dentine formation and pulp repair.
Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP): Channel whose pathological opening leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis.
Fibrotic transformation: Excessive deposition of fibrous connective tissue within the dental pulp, reducing its regenerative capacity.
References
- Melatonin Action in Type 2 Diabetic Parotid Gland and Dental Pulp: In Vitro and Bioinformatic Findings. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023).
- Akt-GSK3β-mPTP pathway regulates the mitochondrial dysfunction contributing to odontoblasts apoptosis induced by glucose oxidative stress. Cell Death Discovery (2022).
- Histological Aspects Regarding Dental Pulp of Diabetic Patients. Applied Sciences (2021).
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