Stomatopsychology: A Newer Subject Bridging the Gap between Oral Health and Overall Health

Abstract

As already discussed, the influence of psychological factors on an individual can be assessed as multi-factorial psychosomatic and/or somatoform disorders. Attention must also be paid to the fact that psychiatric illness may also develop as a result of skin/oral mucosal disease. Dental professionals lag behind understanding such cases as we do not regard ourselves as having a role in identifying dental patients with psychological problems. So there is a need to recognize emotional disorders in the physically ill persons [1]. Furthermore the dental professionals must be well versed with the knowledge regarding dental management of previously diagnosed cases of psychological illness. They must also be an expert regarding the knowledge of oral manifestations or complications of antipsychotic treatment. For example, oral dyskinesia which involves abnormal involuntary, uncontrollable movements affecting primarily the tongue, lips and jaws (can extend to trunk and limbs). It occurs due to conventional antipsychotics [6,7]. It may also lead to Neuropsychiatric conditions, oral ulcers, edentulousness, xerostomia, dysphagia, dysgeusia etc [6]. It has also been reported by several authors that 25% of patients on conventional antipsychotics have tardive dyskinesias after 5 years of treatment.