Abstract
Background/Aim: It has been discussed over the years whether emotional stress might be a risk factor for periodontal diseases. The correlation between periodontal disease and stress can still not be explained. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of academic stress on gingival tissues in a prospective design. Material and Methods: The study population consisted of randomly selected 40 dental students. Clinical examinations of plaque (PI), gingival (GI) and sulcus bleeding (SBI) indices, probing pocket depth (PPD) and gingival crevicular fluid flow rate were performed along with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at three different periods of the school year. Measurements were recorded one month before the finals (1 st period), during the final exams (2 nd period), and two months after the final exams (3 rd period). Results: The changes in mean values of all parameters except plaque and pocket depth between the final and control terms were statistically significant. There was a significant correlation between gingival index and stress, plaque, pocket depth, and sulcus bleeding indices at 1 st period. There was a significant correlation between gingival index and crevicular fluid at 2 nd period. There was a significant correlation between gingival index and plaque, and sulcus bleeding indices at 3 rd period. Conclusions: The present results support the hypothesis that academic stress is a significant risk factor for gingival and periodontal inflammation.
Highlights
The hypotheses on periodontal diseases by Socransky and Haffeje, stimulated researches on host related factors causing the increase in periodontal destruction[1]
Clinical examinations included periodontal charting and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collection, which were followed by a psychiatric questionnaire
The students were asked to fill out the questionnaire, and by the help of a Williams periodontal probe, plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and sulcus bleeding index (SBI) measurements were performed at the Ramfjord teeth
Summary
The hypotheses on periodontal diseases by Socransky and Haffeje, stimulated researches on host related factors causing the increase in periodontal destruction[1]. Stress, which effects individuals’ susceptibility to the disease, is one of these factors. A life full of stress was shown to be a risk factor for periodontal diseases[2,3,4,5]. The increase in both acute and chronic oral symptoms was found to be related with stressful life conditions[6]. Stressful life events and negative emotions may modulate several physiological systems, as the endocrine and the immune system, causing the health changes. The association between stress and disease is especially evident for infectious diseases, inflammatory conditions, and impaired wound healing[7,8]
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