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Abstract

Background: One of the most frequently encountered diseases of oral cavity is recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The present study was conducted to assess salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone as oral biomarkers to determine stress in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Materials & Methods: 52 patients of RAS of both genders were divided into 2 groups. Group I comprised of patients with RAS and group II had age matched healthy control. 2 mL of unstimulated whole saliva was collected and salivary cortisol and DHEA levels were measured using ELISA kit. Results: Group I had 20 males and 32 females and group II had 21 males and 31 females. 85% in group I and 26% in group II had salivary cortisol level >3 ng/ml and 15% in group I and 74% in group II had between 1.2-3 ng/mL. The difference was significant (P<0.05). DHEA levels 48-61 pg/ml was seen in 54% in Group I and 5% in Group II, <48 pg/ml was seen in 20% in group I and 94% in group II, >61 pg/ml was seen in 26% in group I and 1% in group II. The difference was significant (P<0.05).