Objectives: To determine the relationship between recurrent aphthous stomatitis and stress

Methods: it was a cross-sectional comparative study conducted at Dental OPD of the Department of Operative Dentistry, LUMHS Jamshoro/ Hyderabad from April 2021 to May 2022. A total of 130 subjects using a non-probability sampling technique. All the subjects were divided into two groups. Thus, 65 patients were recruited in group A (as cases) and 65 subjects were in group B (as control). The inclusion criteria of the study were both genders, between 18 to 60 years of age, having a history of 6 months of recurrent aphthous ulcer. The subjects having history and signs suggestive of any chronic systemic disease, pregnant and lactating females and betel nut chewers were excluded from the study. After detailed history and oral examination, all the participants were psychologically evaluated on Hamilton Anxiety Scale for underlying stress.

Results: Out of all study participants, males were in majority 71.50% and females were 28.50%. with a mean age of 31.56 and a standard deviation of 10.24 years. As per the clinical presentation of RAS, buccal mucosa was involved in 20.8% of the cases, followed by the vestibule at 9.2%, tongue at 13.8%, and 6.2% at the floor of the mouth. In most of the cases, 36.9% had a size of the RAS greater than or equal to 6 mm. The severity of the stress was significantly high in patients with RAS compared to patients without RAS (p-0.001).

Conclusions: There is a significant association between stress and recurrent aphthous stomatitis. 

Keywords: Anxiety Levels, Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, Recurrent Aphthous Ulcer, Stress