STRESS AND THE PROGRESSION OF PERIODONTAL-DISEASE

This study examined the association between occupational stress and th e progression of periodontitis in employed adults. 23 regular dental a ttenders, enrolled in a longitudinal study of periodontal disease, wer e examined on 2 occasions at an interval of 5.5 (SD 0.6) years. The me an age at the 2nd examination was 41.1 (SD 7.3) years. Clinical measur ements of periodontal status including clinical attachment level were made at four proximal sites on all teeth. A questionnaire, the occupat ional stress indicator, was used at the second examination to assess s tress retrospectively. The mean change in clinical attachment level wa s 0.63 (SD 0.42) mm and 9.6 (SD 8.6) % of sites measured at both exami nation lost greater than or equal to 3 mm of periodontal attachment. M ultiple regression analysis was used to explore the relationship betwe en mean loss of periodontal attachment and measures of occupational st ress and sociodemographic data. In the final regression model, an incr ease in loss of periodontal attachment was significantly predicted by increasing age, lower socio-economic status, lower job satisfaction an d type A personality. In addition, locus of control was included in th e regression model which explained 65% of the variance in the loss of periodontal attachment. The results suggest that occupational stress m ay have a relationship to the progression of periodontitis.