Correlation between salivary cortisol levels and dental anxiety in children of smokers and nonsmokers

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to evaluate salivary cortisol levels in children of smokers and nonsmokers and thereby establishing the relationship between cortisol levels in response to anxiety in children based on their father's habit of smoking. Materials and Methods: The study population aged between 8 and 10 years includes two groups. Group 1 is comprised 20 children of cigarette smokers and Group 2 is comprised 20 children of nonsmokers. The passive drooling technique was used to collect unstimulated saliva from the children using a sterile container. Salivary cortisol levels were evaluated using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay method. The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software and paired t-test. Results: Higher mean salivary cortisol levels were found in children of smokers compared to children of nonsmokers and the difference between them was significant statistically (P < 0.05). Higher salivary cortisol levels were found in females compared to males and the result was significant statistically (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study has proved that the smoking habit of the father has a negative influence on the anxiety levels of their children.

Key words:

Dental anxiety - nonsmokers - salivary cortisol - smokers

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