Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by specific bacteria (periopathogens). These bacteria act as triggering factors but host defence mechanisms seem to be responsible for most of the tissue damage and progression of the diseases. The host immune response is influenced by systemic and local factors. For centuries an interrelationship between stress and periodontal disease has been suggested. Direct association between increased susceptibility of periodontal disease and stress remains to be proven. Stress modulates the immune response by biological mechanism (activation of central and autonomic nervous system) and behavioural mechanism. Several stress markers are found in patients with periodontal diseases in blood and saliva .The aim of this review is to provide an insight into the relationship between psychological stress and periodontal diseases.
