Oral Health Status of 300 Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics of Visahakapatnam City – One Year Descriptive Cross- Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: During pregnancy, the oral tissues are liable to change due to the hormonal variations that occur. A change in personal habits along with neglect of oral health might predispose to oral diseases. Study aimed to assess the oral health status of the pregnant women in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Material and Methods: Stratified random sampling was done to obtain 300 pregnant women with 100 from each trimester attending the antenatal clinics of three hospitals in Visakhapatnam over a period of one year. The oral health status was evaluated with respect to oral hygiene using Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), dental caries using Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, periodontal status using Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and prosthetic status. Results: The mean age of the study population was 22.2 years. Mean OHI-S score was 3.4 and it was found that oral hygiene worsened with the duration of pregnancy (ANOVA, F = 29.9) (P < 0.05). The mean DMFT was 1.8, and was found to be influenced by the oral hygiene status using Pearsons's correlation coefficient (P < 0.05). Chi-square test showed that the CPI scores increased with the trimester of pregnancy indicating worsening periodontal conditions with duration (P < 0.001). Majority (49.7%) of the study population required restorative care, 14.4% were in need of complex periodontal care and 7.4% needed prosthesis. Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrate low caries experience, poor oral hygiene and poorer periodontal status with progressing pregnancy.

Sociodemographic Differences in Health Awareness and Oral Health in Pregnant Women

“…As the foetus grows, the motherʼs stomach capacity diminishes. Pregnant women therefore consume smaller portions more often, which in turn promotes the development of caries [14]. Possible vomiting, especially in the first trimester, likewise represents an increased erosion and caries risk [14,29].…”

“…Pregnant women therefore consume smaller portions more often, which in turn promotes the development of caries [14]. Possible vomiting, especially in the first trimester, likewise represents an increased erosion and caries risk [14,29]. Consumption of hypercaloric food in pregnancy harms the mother herself, on the one hand, and on the other hand the child receives a "lifetime burden" [23].…”