Depression in patients with chronic periodontitis: A case-control study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 General dentist, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

2 Neuroscience Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Associate professor of psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 Assistant professor, Periodontology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran.

5 Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

6 Department of Psychiatry, Research Center of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Non-communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

7 Assistant professor of psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

10.22038/JFMH.2025.88299.3246

Abstract

Introduction: Periodontal disease is a widespread, multifactorial inflammatory condition affecting the supporting structures of teeth. Chronic periodontitis, its most common form, progresses gradually and is influenced by both biological and psychosocial factors. Depression, a prevalent mental disorder, has been linked to periodontitis in several studies, though findings are inconsistent. This study aims to explore the potential association between the two conditions.
 
Materials and Methods: This study included 70 participants—35 with severe chronic periodontitis and 35 healthy controls—matched by age, sex, and education in Yazd-Iran. Depression levels were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 with Chi-square and independent t-tests to compare group differences.
 
Results: Demographic data showed no significant differences between the periodontitis and control groups, confirming successful matching. There was no significant difference in depression levels between the two groups (P= 0.11). These findings suggest that the prevalence of depression in individuals with chronic periodontitis is comparable to that of periodontally healthy individuals.
 
Conclusion: This study found no significant difference in depression levels between individuals with severe chronic periodontitis and healthy controls. Possible reasons include a limited age range, strict inclusion criteria, and a relatively small sample size. Future research should explore biological markers and lifestyle factors to better understand the complex link between depression and periodontal disease.

Keywords

References

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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 28, Issue 1
January and February 2026
Pages 19-24

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