prevalence of periodontal disease among pregnant women

prevalence of periodontal disease among pregnant women

pregnant women have special oral hygiene needs due to hormonal fluctuations (estrogen and progesterone), which have a strong influence on the oral cavity. maintenance of oral hygiene during pregnancy has been recognized as an important public health issue worldwide. periodontal disease encountered in the pregnant patient must be promptly and properly addressed.

periodontal disease includes a group of inflammatory conditions, typically initiated by oral bacteria, progressing from reversible accumulation of plaque and inflammation of gingival tissue (gingivitis) to irreversible breakdown of the supportive tissues of the teeth and eventually tooth loss (periodontitis). globally, gingivitis is common and severe periodontitis affects 10 to 15% of adult populations. some studies have explored the prevalence of periodontal disease during pregnancy and birth outcomes. they have reported that higher levels of oral disease may affect the quality of life of a pregnant mother. this systematic review was conducted to assess the prevalence of periodontal disease among pregnant woman. results from this review support the need for behavioral interventions for preventing periodontal disease in expectant mothers. this could help to improve their oral and general life quality.