Which factor is NOT typically considered in a periodontal risk assessment?

In periodontal risk assessments, various factors are evaluated to predict the likelihood of developing periodontal disease. While smoker status, age, and familial history of periodontal disease are commonly included in these assessments, psychological stress is often not directly factored in.

Smoker status is critical because smoking is a well-documented risk factor for periodontal disease. It negatively affects immune response and impairs healing after periodontal treatment. Age is another important factor, as the risk for periodontal disease generally increases with age, given the cumulative effects of oral hygiene practices over a lifetime. Familial history reveals genetic predispositions towards periodontal disease, emphasizing the hereditary aspect of susceptibility that can play a significant role in an individual's periodontal health.

Psychological stress, while acknowledged to have potential indirect effects on oral health—such as through its influence on behavior (e.g., oral hygiene neglect)—is not traditionally quantified in the same rigid manner as the aforementioned factors in standard risk assessments. Thus, it does not appear as a primary factor in most periodontal risk evaluations.