IMPACT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ON THE INCIDENCE OF COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING TOOTH EXTRACTION IN MILITARY PERSONNEL

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of this study is determined by the need to improve the effectiveness of dental care for military personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under conditions of warfare and heightened psycho-emotional stress, this category of patients demonstrates a significantly higher incidence of postoperative complications following tooth extraction. The underestimation of chronic stress effects on tissue healing processes, the lack of adapted treatment protocols, and insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration between dentists and psychologists create considerable risks for the quality of medical rehabilitation in the military population. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of PTSD on the incidence and course of postoperative complications after tooth extraction in military personnel, to identify the mechanisms underlying this influence, and to substantiate approaches for enhancing the effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive work in military dental practice. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive analysis of modern clinical and neurophysiological sources, systematization of empirical observations in military hospitals, and synthesis of evidence-based data on the neuroendocrine, immune, and vascular mechanisms of PTSD’s effect on tissue regeneration. Comparative-analytical, descriptive, and structural-functional methods were employed. The results of the study revealed that PTSD leads to hypersecretion of cortisol, cytokine imbalance, vascular hypoxia, and reduced immune reactivity, all of which impair reparative processes after surgical intervention. It was found that military personnel with PTSD more frequently develop alveolitis, bleeding, and prolonged pain syndrome, and the healing of the tooth socket lasts 2–4 days longer compared to individuals without pronounced stress reactions. Conclusions. PTSD-related factors substantially modify the postoperative course, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach in military dentistry. The study justifies the development of unified treatment protocols that take into account psychoneuroimmunological aspects and the implementation of telemedicine monitoring systems for patient condition control. Prospects for further research include the development of national standards for dental care in military personnel with PTSD, identification of biomarkers for complication risk prediction, and the creation of AI-based digital algorithms for personalized assessment of healing after dental procedures.