The relationship between depression and periodontal diseases

Area of Science:

• Oral Health Research
• Mental Health Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• Periodontal diseases and depression are significant public health concerns.
• Understanding the relationship between mental health and oral health is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between depression and periodontal diseases in a representative sample of South Korean adults.
• To identify specific demographic or clinical factors associated with periodontal disease.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing data from the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI).
• Inclusion of 4328 participants aged over 20 years.
• Assessment of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and physician diagnosis, and periodontal diseases via gingival bleeding, calculus, and periodontal pockets.
• Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression.

Main Results:

• In the total sample, neither self-reported nor diagnosed depression was significantly associated with any or severe periodontal disease.
• However, in participants aged 20-29 years, any periodontal disease was associated with self-reported depression (OR, 2.031).
• Within the same age group, severe periodontal disease showed significant associations with both self-reported depression (OR, 6.532) and diagnosed depression (OR, 7.729).

Conclusions:

• Self-reported depression is significantly associated with any or severe periodontal disease in young adults (20-29 years).
• Diagnosed depression is significantly associated with severe periodontal disease exclusively in the 20-29 year age group.
• These findings highlight a specific link between depression and periodontal health in younger adults.