Role of psychoemotional stress in abnormal occlusion

Background: Psychoemotional stress is one of the most significant risk factors in many pathological conditions.

Aim: To assess the incidence and severity of psychoemotional stress in patients with abnormal occlusion.

Materials and methods: The severity of psychoemotional stress was assessed in 120 patients with abnormal occlusion. A dental examination using primary and secondary methods was performed in all patients. Following a clinical examination, the patients were divided into three groups based on the severity of dental attrition (according to Bushan, 1979). The Russian version (according to Vodopianova) of the Psychological Stress Measure (PSM-25; Lemyr–Tessier–Fillion) was used to assess the severity of psychoemotional stress. The questionnaire included 25 questions with an 8-point score for the interpretation of answers, with 1 point representing the absence of psychoemotional stress symptoms and 8 points representing constant daily emotional stress.

Results: The analysis revealed that 42 patients had enamel attrition (Group 1), 49 patients had enamel attrition with partially affected dentin (Group 2), and 29 patients had severe attrition that exposed the dentin (Group 3). All respondents reported experiencing varying levels of psychoemotional stress in their daily lives. The severity of stress increased with more severe clinical manifestations of abnormal occlusion. Moreover, the study revealed that the incidence of psychological stress of varying degrees was 100%. The most common manifestations of psychological stress in patients with abnormal occlusion were as follows: grinding and clenching habit (mean: 3.080±0.099 in Group 1, 4.870±0.185 in Group 2, and 6.080±0.122 in Group 3); feeling unwell (mean: 4.020±0.072, 5.620±0.107, and 6.02±0.12, respectively); fatigue (mean: 4.310±0.103, 5.920±0.124, and 7.310±0.263, respectively); and sleep disorders (mean: 5.280±0.121, 5.690±0.165, and 6.280±0.151, respectively).

Conclusion: The severity of stress can be used as an integrated quantitative measure of an interdisciplinary approach in the management of these patients, highlighting the need for specialist consultations to improve the psychological status. The severity of stress is an objective efficacy criterion for the diagnosis and treatment, reflecting changes in the level of psychological stress.