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Inflammation at the Crossroads: Diabetes and Periodontal Disease (2026 Webinar Series)

Metabolic Health

Presented by:  Vrushali Abhyankar, BDS, MDS, MS

Original Lecture/ Publication Date: January 23, 2026 (2026 Webinar Series)

Review Date: January 23, 2029

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Course Description:

Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease are chronic conditions intricately linked through a bidirectional relationship that amplifies systemic inflammation and disease severity. This lecture delves into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms connecting these diseases, emphasizing how poor glycemic control worsens periodontal outcomes and how periodontal inflammation can hinder metabolic regulation. The session highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between dental and medical professionals to implement integrated care models. Evidence-based interventions—such as periodontal therapy and improved glycemic management—are examined for their impact on systemic health. Additionally, the lecture addresses strategies for enhancing patient education and adherence, while also considering the socioeconomic and cultural barriers that affect access to comprehensive care.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this lecture, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand the Bidirectional Relationship
    Explain the pathophysiological mechanisms linking diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease, emphasizing their mutual influence on disease progression and systemic inflammation.
  2. Recognize Clinical Implications
    Identify how poorly controlled diabetes exacerbates periodontal conditions and how periodontal inflammation can impair glycemic control.
  3. Interpret Diagnostic and Screening Strategies
    Review current guidelines and best practices for screening diabetic patients for periodontal disease and vice versa, including risk assessment tools and biomarkers.
  4. Integrate Interdisciplinary Care
    Promote collaborative care models between dental and medical professionals to improve patient outcomes through shared management plans.

Practical Applications:

  • Integrated Patient Care Plans: Medical and dental professionals can collaborate to create shared care plans for patients with diabetes, incorporating regular periodontal evaluations and glycemic monitoring. This improves communication across disciplines and enhances overall patient outcomes.
  • Targeted Screening Protocols: Clinics can implement dual-screening strategies—screening diabetic patients for periodontal disease and vice versa. This allows for earlier detection and intervention, reducing complications.
  • Patient Education Programs: Healthcare providers can develop educational materials and workshops that explain the oral-systemic connection. Empowering patients with this knowledge encourages better compliance with both dental hygiene and diabetes management routines.

Method: Lecture

Location: Online (Zoom)

AGD Course Code: 150 (Health Medicine and Nutrition)

AAOSH Core Curriculum: Metabolic Health

Credit Hours: 1

 

Speaker Bio: 

Dr. Abhyankar received her BDS and MDS in Prosthodontics from India and later earned her MS in Oral sciences and Certificate in Periodontics from University of Iowa. Dr. Abhyankar is the Program director for the Advanced Education in Periodontics and is also the residents’ mentor at external site of Church Health. Dr. Abhyankar practiced and taught prosthodontics for many years before she completed her second residency in periodontics. This gives her a unique perspective towards interdisciplinary care, and she loves to work with all specialties to achieve the best possible outcomes for her patients.  Before joining University of Tennessee, as a full-time faculty, she practiced periodontics in a private periodontal office in Texas. She has established herself in short order at UTHSC, Memphis as a researcher and has won the Colgate Award for Research Excellence (CARE) with her co-investigator Dr. Ammar Abidi, the John S. Diggs Nelsen Graduate Faculty Enrichment Award, extramural grant by International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the AAP foundation’s Colin-Richman Perio-ortho award. She is also the principal mentor in multiple residents’ master’s research projects and serves as a faculty senator in UTHSC faculty senate.

Conflicts of Interest: None