The influence of stress and anxiety on the response of nonsurgical periodontal treatment

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of stress and anxiety on the response to non-surgical periodontal treatment (NPT) in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Method: Sixty-six patients (mean age 46.1±8 years) were assigned to three groups: control group, probing pocket depth (PPD) leqslant R: less-than-or-eq, slant4 mm, n=20; T1, at least four sites with PPD geqslant R: gt-or-equal, slanted4 and leqslant R: less-than-or-eq, slant6 mm, n=26; and T2, at least four sites with PPD >6 mm, n=20. Stress, state anxiety (SA) and trait anxiety (TA) and plaque index (PI), gingival index, PPD and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline and 3 months after NPT.

Results: TA scores were different among groups at baseline and after NPT. TA was related to periodontitis at baseline and after NPT. PI was associated with the SA at baseline. The reduction of frequency of CAL >6 mm was correlated with TA after adjusting for confounders. Stressed subjects did not show reduction of frequency of PPD >6 mm (T1), CAL 4–6 mm and CAL >6 mm (T2).

Conclusions: The data suggest an influence of trait of anxiety and stress on the response to NPT.