Awareness of Periodontal Diseases and its associated Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes among Pregnant Women attending a Tertiary Care Center

Abstract

Introduction: Periodontal diseases are associated with high levels of gram-negative periodontal pathogens that apparently increase abundantly in the presence of pregnancy-associated hormones. Endotoxins from gram-negative bacteria enter the circulation at high levels to stimulate the production of inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandins and other inflammatory mediators which are potent inducers of labor. The present study was conducted to assess oral health awareness and experience among pregnant women attending a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 167 pregnant women visiting a tertiary care center using self- administered structured questionnaire consisting of questions related to knowledge and awareness regarding periodontal diseases and its possible associated adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Results: Of the total participants, 55.7% said that they did not think gum disease can have adverse pregnancy outcomes. Only 35.9% had, at some point, consulted a dentist for bleeding gums and 36.5% of them had gingival enlargement during pregnancy but 46.1% said that they should wait for the delivery before they could do any dental treatment. Also, 40.1% did not know the safe trimester to undergo dental treatment and only 20.4% said the second trimester was the safest to undergo any dental procedure.

Conclusions: The study showed that awareness and knowledge of periodontal health among pregnant women was not satisfactory.

Keywords: Awareness; adverse pregnancy; periodontal disease; pregnancy outcomes.