Volume : VI, Issue : II, February - 2017

EVALUATION OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND CORTISOL LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS.

Dr. Roshni Jaiswal, Prof. Dr Nina Shenoy

Abstract :

 Background and objectives: Periodontal diseases are the diseases affecting

the supporting structures of teeth. While the primary agent is bacteria, within the

subgingival biofilm, causing periodontal tissue destruction, the progression of the

same is modified by a variety of environmental factors like stress eliciting an

inappropriate host response.

Psychological stress is implicated as one of the significant risk factor for

periodontal disease. Excessive stress leads to activation of HPA axis leading to

immuno–suppression and also ings about behavioural changes favouring at–risk

health behaviours. These two mechanisms may have long term deleterious effect

on periodontal tissues.

Cortisol, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland is a well–established

stress biomarker. Serum and salivary cortisol values are bound to increase in

stressful conditions; hence it is a reliable indicator of psychological stress.

Hence this study was designed to evaluate and co–relate the levels of serum and

salivary cortisol and oral hygiene status in stressed subjects with chronic

periodontitis.

Method: The present study was conducted in the Department of Periodontics,

A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Deralakatte, Mangalore. The

study comprised of 90 stressed subjects suffering from chronic periodontitis

Oral hygiene index –simplified and periodontal parameters like probing pocket

depth and clinical attachment levels were recorded. Saliva and blood samples

were collected and were analyzed to estimate the cortisol levels. Results

obtained were then statistically analyzed to estimate mean and standard

deviation and co–relation was evaluated using Pearson’s co–relation test.

 

Results: The results of the study demonstrated that stressed subjects had higher

mean values of serum and salivary cortisol with poor oral hygiene status.

Moreover, statistically significant co–relation was found between periodontal

parameters i.e. probing depth and clinical attachment levels with the increased

cortisol values (p<0.05) indicating that psychological stress may induce

periodontal tissue destruction.

Conclusion: Results of this study highlight that stressed individuals present with

poor oral hygiene status, which may lead to periodontal destruction. Furthermore,

a significant association was found between cortisol values and periodontal

parameters indicating stress as a probable risk factor which might influence the

severity of periodontal disease. Though clinical trials with larger sample size are

required to establish a definite conclusion.

Keywords :

Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

DR. ROSHNI JAISWAL, PROF. (Dr) NINA SHENOY, EVALUATION OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND CORTISOL LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS., INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH : VOLUME-6 | ISSUE-2 | FEBRUARY-2017

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