Relations of Psychosocial Factors and Cortisol with Periodontal and Bacterial Parameters: A Prospective Clinical Study in 30 Patients with Periodontitis Before and After Non-Surgical Treatment

Abstract

(1) Background: The progression of periodontitis, induced by polymicrobial dysbiosis, can be modified by systemic or environmental factors such as stress or anxiety affecting host response. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential associations between psychosocial factors scores or salivary cortisol levels with clinical periodontal parameters and bacterial environment in patients with periodontitis; (2) Methods: Subgingival microbiota was collected in two pathological and one healthy sites from thirty diseased patients (before/after scaling and root planing (SRP)) and from one healthy site from thirty control patients. Usual clinical periodontal parameters were recorded, and a saliva sample was harvested. Patients completed stress and anxiety self-assessment questionnaires. Cortisol concentrations were determined by ELISA and bacteria were identified by PCR; (3) Results: No correlation between salivary cortisol and the stress-anxiety self-declared was found (p > 0.05), but high concentrations of this molecule were associated positively and linearly with periodontal pocket depth (p = 0.04). It appeared that certain psychosocial stressors are associated with a modulation of the bacterial colonization of pockets of diseased group (before/after SRP), notably concerning Tannerella forsythia (p = 0.02), Porphyromonas gingivalis (p = 0.03), Fusobacterium nucleatum (p = 0.049) and Campylobacter rectus (p = 0.01). (4) Conclusion: This study reveals associations between bacteria colonization and psychosocial parameters in periodontitis that needs to be further investigated.

The Role of the Oral Microbiota Related to Periodontal Diseases in Anxiety, Mood and Trauma- and Stress-Related Disorders

“…Although they did not detect a correlation between salivary cortisol and self-reported stress/anxiety, cortisol levels were positively associated with periodontal pocket depth. Furthermore, high levels of Tannerella forsythia were present in the periodontal pocket samples of all highly stressed patients compared to those with low stress levels and A. actinomycetemcomitans was only detected in the pockets of non-anxious patients (114).…”

“…However, the ideal area to focus on in the context of periodontitis is the subgingival microbiota. One study used subgingival samples to investigate whether there were associations between psychosocial factors scores or salivary cortisol levels and clinical periodontal parameters and microbiota in periodontitis patients (114). Subgingival microbiota samples were collected in two pathological sites (PPD ≥ 5 mm) and one healthy site of diseased patients (n = 30) [before/after scaling and root planing (SRP)] and from one healthy site from control patients (n = 30) (samples collected before/after SRP).…”

Exosomes derived from 3D-cultured MSCs improve therapeutic effects in periodontitis and experimental colitis and restore the Th17 cell/Treg balance in inflamed periodontium

“…Periodontitis is polymicrobe-induced inflammatory condition that damages the tooth-supporting tissues, including the cementum, alveolar bone, gingiva and periodontal ligament. 1 Over 80% of people worldwide have periodontitis, which can cause tooth loosening and even tooth loss if left untreated. 2 Additionally, periodontitis has been reported to increase the prevalence of many systemic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).…”

Paraprobiotics in Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy: Clinical and Microbiological Aspects in a 6-Month Follow-Up Domiciliary Protocol for Oral Hygiene

“…This is a complex condition where bacteria explain the main pathogenic role, despite several other factors that may also contribute. Interestingly, periodontopathogens do not only influence the local environment but can also have a systemic influence; in particular, according to previous research, they could potentially influence even human behaviour through their capacity to produce and recognize neurochemicals [32,33].…”