FIGURE 2.

Allostatic load and implications for oral and periodontal health. Allostatic load or overload describes the “wear and tear” on the body as a result of chronic stress and how this contributes to pathology. There may be a rapid breakdown of oral, dental, periodontal, and peri‐implant tissues as a result of an allostatic load or overload. For example, from chronic stress due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, other environmental stressors, major life events, or trauma. This perceived stress is subject to individual differences and then elicits behavioral and physiologic responses. These responses result in allostasis (homeostasis), adaptation, or an allostatic load. The allostatic load or overload paradigm of chronic stress likely contributes to the rapid breakdown/loss of oral tissues due to several mechanisms (neuroendocrine, altered inflammatory or wound healing processes)