title: Relationship of Perceived Stress and Dental Caries among Pre University Students in Bangalore City.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stress can increase the susceptibility to dental caries by four possible mechanisms. Studies show that adolescents tend to more likely develop negative body image, disturbed eating behaviours and high levels of stress. Students report stress, taking and studying for exams being the greatest source of academic stress due to competition and the large amount of content in less time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives were to analyze the caries experience in relation to perceived stress during preuniversity examination period, to estimate the prevalence of dental caries and to calculate SiC (significant caries index) among preuniversity students in Marathahalli, Bangalore city, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional, correlational study involved 210 students (Response rate = 65.37%). The questionnaire consisted of demographic details and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Dental caries status was evaluated using the WHO (1997) caries diagnostic criteria for decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT: Dynamical mean field theory).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of dental caries was 50.48%. Mean DMFT was 1.74 and Sic index was 4.56. The correlation between PSS and caries experience was found to be weak (r=0.389) (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Academic stress appears to affect oral health, shown by higher caries experience in high perceived stress score individuals.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manav Rachna Dental College , Faridabad, Haryana, India .
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Surgery, Private Practitioner , Faridabad, Haryana, India .
authors.forename: Amitoch
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manav Rachna Dental College , Faridabad, Haryana, India .
authors.forename: Ankur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
keywords: Caries experience; DMFT; Perceived stress; Sic index