STRESS AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE - AN INSIGHT INTO THE ASSOCIATION

KHAN R.¹, KHAN M.H.², GOEL P.³, JOSHI H.S.^4
1Department of Periodontics & Implantology, I.D.S. Bareilly-243 006, UP, India.
²Department of Community Medicine, S.H.K.M., Govt. Medical College, Nalhar, Mewat- 122 107, Haryana, India.
³Department of Community Medicine, S.H.K.M., Govt. Medical College, Nalhar, Mewat- 122 107, Haryana, India.
⁴Department of Community Medicine, R M C & H, Bareilly-243 006, UP, India.

Received : 06-11-2013     Accepted : 05-12-2013     Published : 30-12-2013
Volume : 1     Issue : 2       Pages : 24 - 26
World Res J Crit Care 1.2 (2013):24-26

The involvement of psychological factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease has recently become an area of interest. It has been reported that variations in severity of periodontal diseases are influenced by stress. Stress reduces immune system functions through hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and production of cortisol resulting in the inhibition of immunoglobulins and neutrophil functions. This leads to increased oral biofilm burden and decreased resistance of the periodontium to inflammatory breakdown. Controlling the psychological factors such as stress and depression may play an important role in overall periodontal maintenance programme.