Researchers have discovered a link between depression, anxiety and tooth loss.
Over 76,000 participants, aged 19 years and older, took part in a study examining the correlation between tooth loss, depression and anxiety.
Of the participants, 13.4% reported anxiety, 16.7% reported depression, and 5.7% reported total tooth loss.
Multiple tests were carried out, including frequency, Chi square analysis and complex survey logistic regression. All participants had associations with depression, anxiety and tooth loss. Data was collected from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Researchers understood that individuals suffering from dental anxiety may avoid dental care, and those with depression may be lax in self-care.
Researchers concluded that biopsychosocial factors, such as depression and anxiety, had a correlation with tooth loss.
The research was presented by R Constance Wiener from West Virginia University at the 43rd Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research in March 2014.
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