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Periodontal health of London women during early pregnancy.

Posted on December 31st, 2009 | In General, Gum Diseases

Br Dent J. 2001 Nov 24;191(10):570-3.

Moore S, Ide M, Wilson RF, Coward PY, Borkowska E, Baylis R, Bewley S, Maxwell DJ, Mulhair L, Ashley FP.

Department of Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Guy’s King’s and St. Thomas’ Dental Institute, King’s College, London.

OBJECTIVES: A descriptive cross-sectional study to determine the severity of periodontal disease in early pregnancy and its relation to demographic variables in a South East London population.

METHODS: 2,027 pregnant women attending Guy’s Hospital for an ultrasound scan at 10 to 14 weeks gestation were assessed. Data were collected via questionnaire and periodontal examination, including plaque and bleeding scores, pocket probing depth and loss of attachment.

RESULTS: Mean age was 29.8 years (sd 5.5). Of these, 61.8% were white, 28.5% black, and 9.7% of other ethnic group. A total of 15% reported smoking during pregnancy. The mean number of teeth present was 28 (sd 2) per subject, mean percentage of sites with plaque present was 60.5% (sd 22.6), mean pocket depth was 2.0 mm (sd 0.4), mean loss of attachment was 0.4 mm (sd 0.3), and the mean percentage of sites bleeding on probing was 20.2% (sd 16.3). Linear regression demonstrated that probing depth was related to age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and plaque score but not to smoking whereas loss of attachment demonstrated relationships with age, smoking status and plaque score but not ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSION: There was a relatively high proportion of subjects with deep periodontal pockets in this pregnant population compared to the Adult Dental Health Survey 1998 but with similar levels of loss of attachment and percentage of sites with plaque present. Several demographic factors were associated with the level of periodontal disease in this population.

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Women’s health issues and their relationship to periodontitis.

Posted on December 31st, 2009 | In General, Gum Diseases

J Am Dent Assoc. 2002 Mar;133(3):323-9.

Krejci CB, Bissada NF.

Department of Periodontics, Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Cleveland, OH 44103-4905, USA.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of sex-specific associations between periodontitis and certain systemic disorders has prompted researchers to investigate the possibility of associations between periodontitis and specific women’s health issues. The authors review the potential relationships between periodontitis and hormonal changes and their ramifications in regard to pregnancy outcomes, cardiovascular disease, or CVD, and osteoporosis.

METHODS: Changes in hormone levels, such as those that occur during puberty, pregnancy, menstruation and menopause, as well as those that occur with the use of hormonal supplements, have long been associated with the development of gingivitis. Furthermore, bacterial anaerobes have been found to change during the normal hormonal cycle. In periodontitis, the inflammatory response results in ulceration of the gingivae and the subsequent entry of bacterial cells, bacterial products, peptidoglycan fragments and hydrolytic enzymes into the systemic circulation. The result is a systemic response of increased cytokines and biological mediators, as well as increased levels of serum antibodies.

RESULTS: Some researchers have found that pregnant women with periodontitis were 7.5 times more likely to have a preterm low-birth-weight infant than were control subjects. Other researchers reported that the risk of preterm birth was directly related to the severity of periodontitis. Similarly, researchers have linked periodontitis to CVD. Many studies have indicated that estrogen exerts a protective effect against CVD development, and much evidence suggests that when hormone replacement therapy is administered to postmenopausal women, this effect continues. A relationship between periodontitis and osteoporosis has been established, such that more clinical attachment loss has been noted in osteoporotic people.

CONCLUSIONS: The literature suggests that more sex-specific research is essential to determine the strategies needed to prevent and treat adverse pregnancy outcomes, CVD and osteoporosis through hormone modification and periodontitis control. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists must assume greater responsibility for the overall health of their patients, and acquire knowledge of relevant systemic conditions to interact meaningfully with medical colleagues.

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Periodontal health of London women during early pregnancy.

Women’s health issues and their relationship to periodontitis.