The relationship between periodontitis and preterm low birthweight.

There is no consensus about the influence of periodontal disease on preterm low birthweight. The objective was to investigate the relationship between periodontal disease and preterm low birthweight. A case-control study with 542 post partum women aged over 30 yrs was conducted. Three groups of cases were compared with non-preterm and non-low-birthweight control individuals (n = 393): low birthweight (n = 96), preterm (n = 110), and preterm and low birthweight (n = 63). Periodontal clinical parameters and covariates were recorded. Periodontal disease levels were higher in control individuals than in cases. The extent of periodontal disease did not increase risk of preterm low birthweight according to 15 measures of periodontal disease. Mean periodontal pocket depth and frequency of periodontal sites with clinical attachment level > or = 3 mm in preterm low birthweight cases were lower than in control individuals. Periodontal disease was not more severe in women with preterm low birthweight babies.

The influence of stress and anxiety on the response of non-surgical 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) or=4 and 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.

The relationship of stress and anxiety with chronic periodontitis.

AIM: This case-control study investigates the relationship of stress and anxiety with periodontal clinical characteristics. METHOD: Seventy-nine selected patients (mean age 46.8+/-8 years) were assigned to three groups in accordance with their levels of probing pocket depth (PPD): control group (PPD< or =3 mm, n=22), test group 1 (at least four sites with PPD > or =4 mm and < or =6 mm, n=27) and test group 2 (at least four sites with PPD >6 mm, n=30). An inclusion criterion of the study required that patients presented a plaque index (PI) with a value equal to or larger than 2 in at least 50% of dental surfaces. All subjects were submitted to stress and anxiety evaluations. Stress was measured by the Stress Symptom Inventory (SSI) and the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), while the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to assess anxiety. Clinical measures such as PI, gingival index (GI), PPD and clinical attachment level (CAL) were collected. Patient's medical history and socioeconomic data were also recorded. RESULTS: The mean clinical measures (PI, GI, PPD and CAL) obtained for the three groups, were: control group, 1.56+/-0.32, 0.68+/-0.49, 1.72+/-0.54 and 2.04+/-0.64 mm; group 1, 1.56+/-0.39, 1.13+/-0.58, 2.67+/-0.67 and 3.10+/-0.76 mm, group 2, 1.65+/-0.37, 1.54+/-0.46, 4.14+/-1.23 and 5.01+/-1.60 mm. The three groups did not differ with respect to percentage of clinical stress, scores of the SRRS, trait and state anxiety. Frequency of moderate CAL (4-6 mm) and moderate PPD (4-6 mm) were found to be significantly associated with higher trait anxiety scores after adjusting for socioeconomic data and cigarette consumption (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the obtained results, individuals with high levels of trait anxiety appeared to be more prone to periodontal disease.