Comparison of extraction socket healing in non-diabetic, prediabetic, and type 2 diabetic patients

Objective: To compare the healing of extraction socket among non-diabetic, prediabetic, and diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: A single-center prospective observational study was conducted. Glycated hemoglobin and random blood glucose were recorded for all the participants before the procedure. A trained and calibrated examiner evaluated the socket size on postoperative days 0 and 7. Postoperative pain (PoP), discharge, swelling, infection, erythema, dry socket, and the number of analgesics were also recorded. Results: A total of 100 participants completed this study with a mean age of 54.7±12.11. There was no significant difference in the mean socket size among the three study groups on day 0 (P=0.101). However, there was a significant difference in the mean socket size on day 7 among the three groups. A post hoc test showed that the diabetic group had a larger socket size than the non-diabetic group (P=0.011). Complications like swelling and infection were more in the diabetic group. There was no significant difference in the mean number of analgesics among the three groups (P=0.169). The adjusted means for the socket size on postoperative day 7 was significantly higher for diabetic than the non-diabetic group. Conclusion: The socket dimension was larger on postoperative day 7 in people with diabetes which suggested delayed healing without persistent complications. Dental extractions can be performed safely in optimally controlled diabetic patients with minimal complications.