Academic stress as a risk factor for dental caries

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the associations between dental caries classified according to the index for decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) and stimulated salivary flow, salivary capacity for oxidation reduction and academic stress in undergraduate dental surgery students aged 18-22 years. Methods: This research was performed at three time-points: March 2010, September 2010 and March 2011. The sample was composed of 73 students, including 15 male and 58 female subjects. Data were obtained using the DMFT index to detect incident dental caries, the RD test Showa for salivary capacity for oxidation reduction, the Sisco academic stress inventory, and sterile polyethylene to stimulate salivary flow. Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that: subjects with stimulated salivary flow of < 1 ml/min are at increased risk for developing caries compared with those with stimulated salivary flow of ⥠1 ml/min; those with moderate or high levels of academic stress are at greater risk for developing carious lesions than those with low academic stress; women are at greater risk for developing carious lesions than men, and, of the subjects studied, younger students were more likely to develop caries. Conclusions: Moderate to high levels of academic stress, younger age and lower salivary flow rate represent risk factors for the development of dental caries in students. © 2012 FDI World Dental Federation.