Fikri Öcal, Rüveyda Çetintaş, Yasemin Demirtaş Öcal
Journal of Dental Sciences and Education - 2025;3(4):94-100
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate tooth wear and gingival recession in individuals presenting with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and to investigate potential associations with obsessive-compulsive symptom severity, toothbrushing habits, and demographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied, including 143 participants aged 16-70 years with at least 20 natural teeth who met the inclusion criteria. All participants completed a demographic information form, an oral hygiene questionnaire, and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R). Clinical examination assessed tooth wear using the Bartlett Tooth Wear Index and gingival recession using the Miller Classification. Data were analyzed with SPSS 27.0. Group comparisons were performed with the Mann-Whitney U test, and correlations were examined with Spearman's correlation and regression analysis. Results: Of the participants, 18.9% scored OCI-R >=21, indicating higher obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Females brushed more frequently than males, and younger participants brushed more often than older individuals (p<0.05). Gingival recession scores did not differ significantly between high and low OCI-R groups (p>0.05). However, occlusal enamel (OE3), occlusal dentin (OD2), and cervical (C3) wear scores were significantly higher in the high OCI-R group (p<0.05). Weak-to-moderate correlations were observed between the OCI-R ordering subscale and selected occlusal wear parameters. Overall, no strong associations were found between total OCI-R scores and tooth wear or gingival recession. Conclusion: The findings suggest that while gingival recession may not increase in individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, certain occlusal wear patterns may be more prevalent. Obsessive behaviors such as excessive toothbrushing, bruxism, and ordering compulsions may play a role in these outcomes. Dental practitioners should consider these behavioral factors when providing preventive strategies and oral hygiene education. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended to optimize the oral health management of individuals with obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
