Prevalence of recurrent aphthous ulcers among dentistry students and its association with anxiety

Abstract

Objective: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common ulcerative inflammatory condition of the oral mucosa. Considering the contradictory findings of previous research about the association between anxiety and RAS, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of RAS and its association with anxiety among dentistry students. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, a total of  241 dentistry students of G. University were divided into two groups (those with a history of RAS and healthy subjects) after recording their demographic and required information. Also, Cattell’s questionnaire was used to evaluate the level of anxiety. The results were analyzed using SPSS v.21 software, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 2.40% of subjects suffered from RAS. This condition was more prevalent in winter, and its incidence was significantly different between the two groups in terms of the presence of a family history of RAS (p=0.01), food allergy (p=0.05), and regular exercise (p=0.040). Subjects with RAS had a significantly higher anxiety intensity in the areas of lack of ego strength, superego susceptibility, and ergic tension compared to subjects without RAS (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The results showed that some areas of anxiety, including lack of ego strength, can be predictors of RAS. Therefore, teaching life skills such as anxiety management and its timely diagnosis and treatment can play an essential role in the prevention and treatment of RAS.