Assessment of Periodontal Status in Patients With Depression : A Cross Sectional Study.

Periodontitis, a periodontal disease, results from interaction between the immune system and oral bacteria that may promote oxidative stress and initiate an inflammatory cascade inducing the destruction of the oral structure.

The immune-microbial pathogenesis of periodontitis involves chronic inflammation, which alters the balance among multiple systems, including the neural, immune, and endocrine systems. Multiple systemic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases, have been shown to have an inflammatory association with periodontitis, and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6 are involved. In addition, distress experienced by the patients with periodontitis showed correlation with the progression of periodontitis. Studies have demonstrated that chronic stress and depression fall into a spectrum and could induce dysregulation of the immune system, impairing the course of periodontitis.

Depression, a disabling psychiatric disorder, manifests with depressed mood, vegetative symptoms, and cognitive impairment, and could impair the personal life quality and physical function. In 2015, this mental disorder was classified as the third main cause of global disability . It is a well established and important risk factor for many systemic conditions, including obesity, sleep disturbance, and chronic diseases . In addition to the general health conditions, oral diseases have also been associated with depression . Although some biomarkers were reported to be associated with depression, such as inflammatory cytokines, the serum level of neurotropic factors, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormone, the clinical use are still unclear.

In the last years, most studies have drawn attention to a contribution of depression to poor oral health status . Conversely, there are researchers investigating a possible influence of oral health conditions on depression suggesting a bi-directional relationship between oral health and mental disorders. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that treatment of periodontitis may lead to improvement in the depression score in patients.

Only few cross-sectional studies have been conducted evaluating association of depression and periodontitis that too in high income countries (Finland, USA and Korea) and the results are inconclusive. So the present study will be conducted in our country to evaluate association of periodontitis and depression to provide high level of evidence.