Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
İnönü üniversitesi Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksek Okulu Dergisi, cilt.14, sa.1, ss.184-195, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
This study investigated the impact of a major natural disaster—the 2023 Türkiye earthquake—on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), tooth wear, and oral hygiene among affected individuals compared to those who did not experience the earthquake. A total of 504 participants were enrolled in a cross-sectional clinical study conducted at İnönü University Faculty of Dentistry between June and July 2025. PTSD symptoms were assessed, and oral health evaluations included the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and Smith and Knight’s Tooth Wear Index. Results indicated significantly higher PTSD symptoms in individuals who experienced the earthquake, with a PTSD prevalence of 43.03%, compared to 17.79% in the non-exposed group. Tooth wear scores were notably higher in participants with PTSD scores of 25 or above, suggesting a potential link between psychological stress and dental health. Oral hygiene was poorer in the earthquake-experienced group and showed a positive correlation with PTSD scores. Additionally, women exhibited higher PTSD scores and worse oral hygiene compared to men, contrary to some previous findings. Younger individuals (<35 years) in the non-exposed group demonstrated better oral hygiene than other age groups. Despite these associations, the cross-sectional nature of the study limits causal interpretations. The findings emphasize the multifactorial relationship between psychological trauma and oral health, underlining the need for further longitudinal research to explore the long-term dental impacts of PTSD and disaster-related stress.