(TKP2021-EGA-23) Támogató: Innovációs és Technológiai Minisztérium
(K 138472)
(János Bolyai Research Scholarship)
Szakterületek:
Orvos- és egészségtudomány
Dental collagen, a protein subject to essentially zero turnover, is highly susceptible
to the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) due to elevated blood
glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Progressive loss of collagen's structural
stability likely increases the risk of tooth decay and fracture complicating the proper
fixation of dental restorations. Our study aimed at investigating the structural and
mechanical alterations in T2DM-affected teeth by measuring the stiffness and detecting
micro-traumas and fractures. By using computed tomography (CT) and static compression
tests, caries-free human molars and front teeth from healthy and T2DM patients were
analyzed. Our results revealed a significantly reduced enamel/dentin ratio and larger
dentin crack sizes in T2DM molars compared to controls, indicating increased susceptibility
to mechanical damage. Although statistical analysis showed age as a dominant factor
in tooth deterioration, T2DM was associated with a clinically relevant increase in
dentin fracture size, suggesting that diabetes aggravates tooth fragility. Our findings
underscore the importance of the cooperative effect of age and diabetes in dental
biomechanics which bears significant implications in restorative treatments. Altogether,
while ageing significantly affects tooth mechanical stability, T2DM contributes to
additional structural weakening, particularly in molars, due to altered mechanical
properties and higher occurrence of dental wears.
