Concordance in Diagnosis of Periodontitis in Diabetic Patients Between an Indirect Method Based on a Photograph of the Oral Cavity and a Direct Method Based on the Clinical Examination of This Oral Cavity (Reference).

Periodontitis, a known complication of diabetes, is an infectious disease that destroys bone and gums. Studies have shown that diabetes favors periodontitis, and that periodontitis contributes to its aggravation. The positive impact of treating periodontitis on the cost of diabetes care has been demonstrated and the French national health system fully covers the treatment of periodontitis for diabetic patients. Unfortunately, 80% of diabetic patients do not visit their dentist enough. Although diabetologists regularly see their patients and are aware of the importance of treating periodontitis,they do not have the expertise to diagnose the condition whereas a specialist dentist can often diagnose it just by looking. This study aims to develop a solution combining the dentist's expertise with that of the diabetologist. This would be based on analysis of a photograph of the patient's oral cavity, taken in the department. So far, no studies have ever evaluated the performance of an expert dentist for diagnosing periodontitis from a simple photograph made by non-dental experts in a diabetic department. The hypothesis is that the concordance in the diagnosis of periodontitis between an indirect method based on a photograph of the oral cavity and a direct method based on clinical examination of this oral cavity (reference) in the diabetic patient would be satisfactory.

Among the complications of diabetes, periodontitis, an infectious disease that destroys the bone and gums, has a bidirectional relationship with diabetes. Indeed, studies have shown that diabetes favors periodontitis, and that periodontitis contributes to the aggravation of diabetes. In addition, the positive impact of treating periodontitis on the indicators and cost of diabetes management has been demonstrated. To echo these findings, since 2020, the French national health scheme now fully covers the treatment of periodontitis in diabetic patients. Unfortunately, health insurance reports point out that 80% of diabetic patients do not visit their dentist enough. This makes it difficult to detect and treat periodontitis in diabetic patients at an early stage. At the same time, diabetologists who regularly see their patients confirm the importance of knowing their periodontal condition. But they do not have the expertise to diagnose periodontitis whereas, in most cases, a specialist dentist could diagnose it just by looking. The development of a solution allowing the dentist's expertise to be brought to the service of diabetes may have a positive impact on the management of diabetic patients with periodontitis. This expertise could be based on analyzing a photograph of the patient's oral cavity, taken in the department. So far, no studies have ever evaluated the performance of an expert dentist for diagnosing periodontitis from a simple photograph, made by non-dental experts in a diabetic department. The hypothesis is that the concordance in the diagnosis of periodontitis between an indirect method based on a photograph of the oral cavity and a direct method based on clinical examination of this oral cavity (reference) in the diabetic patient would be satisfactory.