The Influence of Depression on Gingival Health and C-Reactive Protein Among Female Students in Iraq: A...

Gingival health is considered an important concern in dentistry and can affect people, especially females. Depression plays a crucial role in the gingival state.

This study aimed to test the consequences of a depressive state on gingival health status in women in association with C-reactive protein in saliva.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 500 randomly selected women. All chosen females in the sample suffered from depression, but in different grades, and this was achieved using Beck's Depression Inventory II questionnaire. Plaque and gingival indices were used to assess the oral health. Salivary flow rate and C-reactive protein levels were examined in the high- and low-depression subsamples.

Participants were divided into three grades based on the depression scale (mild, moderate, and severe). The severe depression grades had higher plaque and gingival indices, and the mean C-reactive protein concentration was higher in the severe depression grade, with a highly significant difference (P =0.000).

Depression has an actual biological relationship with the health of the oral cavity; it increases gingival inflammatory illnesses and similarly disturbs typical salivary constituents. Increased C-reactive protein levels correlate with psychosomatic depressive illnesses.