The relationship between periodontal disease severity and state-trait anxiety level

To determine the relationship between the paroxysm related to periodontal disease and the state-trait anxiety level in patients attending a periodontology clinic in Turkey.

The cross-sectional study involved 141 patients > or = 18 years old attending the periodontology clinic at the Dental Faculty of Erciyes University, Turkey, between January and March 2009. A questionnaire developed by the researchers, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Index and the Community Periodontal Index were used for data collection. SPSS 15, chi square test and unpaired students' t test were used for statistical analysis.

Gingivitis was present in 101 (71.6%) patietns, while periodontitis was found in 40 (28.4%). The mean age of periodontal patients was significantly higher than those of gingivitis patients (p < 0.05). Graduates were less likely to develop periodontitis than those who had only primary education (p < 0.05). Gingivitis was seen to be significantly higher in patients having poor oral hygiene (p < 0.05). State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores of periodontal patients was significantly higher than those of gingivitis patients (p < 0.05). Patients with high state anxiety scores were more likely to have periodontitis. The most important variables associated with periodontitis and gingivitis were age, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, income level and needs for treatment, respectively.

Periodontal treatment will improve if anxiety is diagnosed and relieved by different methods.