Tingkat Stres Akademik terhadap Jumlah Bakteri Streptococcus Mutans pada Mahasiswa Preklinik FKG USU USIA 18-22 Tahun

Abstract

Introduction Oral diseases, particularly dental caries, are closely related to the activity of Streptococcus mutans bacteria, which can form plaque biofilms and ferment carbohydrates into lactic acid. In dental education settings, students often face high academic pressure, which triggers activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increases cortisol hormone secretion. This increase in cortisol can reduce the natural antimicrobial defense function in saliva, creating an environment conducive to the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity. Objective was to analyze the relationship between academic stress levels and the number of Streptococcus mutans bacterial colonies in 30 female preclinical students aged 18-22 years from the 2023 class of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of North Sumatra. Method This was an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design. Stress levels were measured using the Perception of Academic Stress Scale (PASS) questionnaire. Unstimulated saliva samples were cultured on Blood Agar medium and incubated for 48 hours at 37°C. Colony counts were performed using a colony counter and analyzed statistically using Pearson's correlation test. Result showed that the distribution of stress levels among the subjects consisted of low stress (8 subjects, 26.7%), moderate stress (9 subjects, 30.0%), and high stress (13 subjects, 43.3%). The average number of Streptococcus mutans colonies increased significantly in each stress category: low stress group (60.00 colonies), moderate stress group (153.11 colonies), and high stress group (250.15 colonies). Pearson's correlation test showed a significant, strong, and unidirectional relationship between academic stress levels and the number of bacterial colonies (r = 0.937; p = 0.000). Conclusion, the higher the academic stress level, the greater the number of Streptococcus mutans colonies.