A Longitudinal Investigation of the Periodontal Changes During Pregnancy

Abstract

CHANGES IN THE GINGIVAL TISSUES during pregnancy have been termed "pregnancy gingivitis." During this period, the gingiva may appear hyperemic and enlarged and bleeding may be frequent during brushing or on external manipulation. Histopathologic evidence suggests that the microscopic changes observed in the gingiva during pregnancy do not differ from the microscopic changes observed in gingivitis in nonpregnant females. It is suggested that an accentuated inflammatory response to local irritants during pregnancy is the basic cause for the altered appearance of the gingival structures. Löe et al, in a cross-sectional study, examined 121 pregnant and 61 postpartum women. He reported that 100 percent of the women examined during pregnancy and postpartum demonstrated gingival changes which at the clinical level can be adequately described as inflammation of the gingiva (gingivitis), and that the severity of these changes were significantly higher in pregnant than in postpartum patients. The purpose of this investigation was to apply longitudinal epidemiologic techniques to:1. Measure the prevalence of periodontal disease during pregnancy and postpartum. Document the gingival and periodontal changesduring pregnancy and postpartum. 3. Determine what influence, if any, the gingival changes have on the underlying periodontium during pregnancy. 4. Document the presence of hard and soft irritants in the mouth during pregnancy and postpartum. 5. Determine what role local irritants play in the etiology of periodontal disease during pregnancy and postpartum.

Periodontal status during pregnancy and postpartum

“…Our findings are in agreement with those reported by others authors like Cohen et al [4], Figuero et al [21] and Rashidi Maybodi et al [35], who observed a gradual increase in gingivitis from the first to the third trimester. The improvement during the postpartum was also described in studies by Raber-Durlacher [13] and Abraham-Inpijn et al [36], or the study of Gürsoy et al who concludes that changes in clinical parameters during pregnancy are reversible [37].…”

Association between Pre-pregnant Overweight and Obesity and Periodontal Disease during Pregnancy: A Cross Sectional Study

“…[61] Such findings suggest the existence of a relationship which is in agreement with those of many reports in the literature. [69,70,71,34] In agreement with the previous study found that the mean ± standard deviation of the decayed, missing and filled teeth was shown as 6.21 ± 1.4, 2.23 ± 0.9, 1.95 ± 0.9 respectively. [58] Lastly, the finding of the present study is in consistency with the result of Kornman and Loeshe who reported that one-quarter of the women of reproductive age had dental caries.…”

Effect of Oral Contraceptive Therapy On Gingival Inflammation in Humans

“…(2) Lower right first molar, mesial-lingual line angle; (3) Upper left central incisor, mesial-facial line angle; (4) Lower right central incisor, mesial-facial line angle.…”