Stress in dental patients: III. Impaction cases

Abstract

Ninety-one impacted lower third molars were removed, and the adrenocortical responses of the patients, both before and after surgery, were measured. Both serum free and urine total 17-hydroxycorticosteroids were determined in these patients and in thirty-three control subjects. The preoperative serum mean of 20.68 gamma per cent for the surgical patients was significantly higher than that of 14.17 gamma per cent found for the controls. It was also significantly higher than the 13.74 gamma per cent found for our 633 laboratory control subjects and the 17.53 gamma per cent for 286 subjects scheduled for simple exodontia. One hour after operation the effect of anticipating and experiencing impaction surgery was no longer evident. Urinary excretion of corticosteroids was not significantly different for the impaction and control groups.