Diabetes and Periodontal Therapy Trial

The primary aim of the study is to determine if non-surgical periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing and supportive periodontal therapy) is efficacious compared to delayed therapy in reducing elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at 6 months post-randomization in subjects with type 2 diabetes and untreated, moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis. The secondary aims of the study are to: 1. evaluate whether 6 month (or shorter-term (3 month)) changes in clinical measures of chronic periodontitis (gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, clinical attachment level) are related to changes in HbA1c and fasting glucose or insulin resistance as measured by the Homeostasis Model Assessment 2 (HOMA2). 2. assess the 3 month and 6 month efficacy of periodontal therapy on all of the above study outcomes. If a treatment response is observed for any of the study outcomes at 3 months, then the trial can evaluate whether this response is sustained at 6 months.