Luis Alberto Bustos

Dr. Luis Alberto Bustos


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
18 June 2026 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
LBLuis Alberto Bustos
Luis Alberto Bustos
MRMaría Guadalupe Ramos-Zavala
María Guadalupe Ramos-Zavala
KRKarla Patricia Terríquez Requeña
Karla Patricia Terríquez Requeña
FAFelipe Avalos
Felipe Avalos
FPFernando Grover Páez
Fernando Grover Páez
.P.Sara Pascoe
.Sara Pascoe
Background: Periodontitis and type 2 diabetes (T2D) maintain a bidirectional pathophysiological relationship that impairs conventional periodontal treatment outcomes. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, possesses well-documented antimicrobial, hemostatic, wound-healing, and osteo-inductive properties. Objective: We aimed to evaluate whether 1% chitosan gel delivered nightly via a custom occlusal guard, as an adjunct to full-mouth scaling and root planning (SRP), would improve periodontal clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with T2DM and Stage I-II periodontitis compared to placebo. Methods: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted (n = 16; 8 per group) in adults aged 40-65 years with T2D and periodontitis. Following SRP, participants received either 1% chitosan gel or placebo nightly via a custom occlusal guard for 30 days. Primary outcomes included periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and radiographic bone level (RBL). Secondary outcomes were probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and Miller mobility grade. Statistical analysis employed the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (within-group) and Mann-Whitney U test (between-group); p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Groups were comparable at baseline. Within-group analysis at 30 days revealed significant reductions in PPD (4.2 +/- 1.1 to 3.4 +/- 1.1 mm; p = 0.019) and RBL (5.6 +/- 2.2 to 5.1 +/- 1.9 mm; p = 0.030) in the chitosan group, and a clinically meaningful trend in CAL (5.1 +/- 2.8 to 3.8 +/- 1.7 mm; p = 0.069). The placebo group showed significant BOP reduction (78.3 +/- 23.4 to 51.5 +/- 26.0%; p = 0.017), consistent with the known effect of mechanical debridement. No between-group differences reached significance in delta values. Conclusions: Adjunctive use of 1% chitosan gel via a custom occlusal guard as a delivery system produces clinically relevant improvements in PPD and RBL in T2D patients with periodontitis. The occlusal guard represents a novel, patient-administered, sustained-contact delivery platform for periodontal local therapy. Larger, long-term randomized trials with microbiological and glycemic endpoints are warranted.