The effect of body weight and psychological characteristics on periodontal disease development

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the association between periodontal health in young patients with various body mass indexes and psychological traits such as temperament, level of anxiety, and autonomic nervous system tone. Materials and methods: The study included 132 male and female subjects aged 18–22 years with different body mass indexes (BMI). They were allocated into four groups by their BMIs: normal weight, overweight, and first- and second-degree obesity. We completed periodontal charts for all patients and evaluated basic oral hygiene and periodontal indexes, such as the Green-Vermillion index (OHI), the approximal plaque index by Lange (API), and papilla bleeding index by Saxer & Mühlemann (PBI). Eysenck personality questionnaire, the state-trait anxiety inventory of Spielberger-Khanin, and Wayne questionnaire were used to determine the psychological characteristics. Results: Patients with the first and second degrees of obesity were found to have the highest prevalence and severity of generalized gingivitis (up to 90%). Patients with normal BMI had significantly lower levels of extraversion and higher levels of neuroticism than the obese individuals, while subjects with extra weight and normal BMI were more emotionally stable. We found no evidence that choleric or melancholic temperament had an impact on BMI or periodontal health. However, phlegmatic temperament was found to be linked to a normal BMI, good oral hygiene, and an intact periodontium, while sanguine temperament was linked to obesity and gingivitis in young adults. A significantly higher level of state and trait anxiety was observed in obese individuals. Fifty percent of the obese subjects had disturbances of the functional state of the cardiovascular system and the tone of the autonomic nervous system. Conclusions: Because obesity and periodontal pathology are multifactorial diseases linked to lifestyle, stress tolerance, and habits, personality temperament may play a causal role in their development.