Scientists have discovered a way to restore the bone tissue that supports teeth in type 2 diabetes. In a study published in the International Journal of Oral Science, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the drug abaloparatide helped restore bone tissue around the teeth in mice with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of periodontitis — chronic inflammation of the tissues surrounding the teeth. The disease accelerates the destruction of the alveolar bone, which holds teeth in place, increasing the likelihood of teeth becoming loose and falling out.

In the experiment, researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences studied the effects of two drugs in mice with diabetes. Both treatments increased bone volume and restored bone height to nearly the level observed in healthy animals.

The scientists found that the drugs activate bone formation by acting on osteocytes, cells that regulate bone remodeling. In mice with diabetes, the drugs did not increase the activity of osteoclasts — cells that break down bone. In healthy animals, the drugs stimulated both bone formation and bone breakdown, so overall bone volume did not change significantly.

The findings suggest that these drugs could potentially be used to preserve teeth in patients with diabetes and improve dental implant integration. However, the study has so far been conducted only in animals. Further trials are needed to establish the effectiveness and safety of this treatment in humans.