Assessment of Periodontal Status during Pregnancy and Post- Partum: A Case-Control Study

Pregnancy has been shown to increase susceptibility to gingival inflammation. It is unclear whether pregnancy gingivitis proceeds to periodontitis .The aim of this study was to determine the severity of periodontal changes during pregnancy and post partum and to compare the findings with an age matched group of non pregnant women . Methodology: 64 systemically healthy pregnant and non pregnant women were included. Pregnant women were examined at 12-14, 25-27, 34-38weeks of pregnancy and 4-6 weeks post-partum. Non -pregnant women were examined four times once per subsequent month. Plaque index, gingival index and community periodontal index was recorded. Results: In the pregnant group, bleeding on probing and periodontal pocket depth increased between second and third trimesters, decreased during post partum period. In the non-pregnant group, BOP and PPD decreased during the follow-up period. The results of the study showed that increased levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy could give rise to a florid response to the effects of the oral deposits causing severe gingivitis. Hence the gingival changes during pregnancy are reversible and pregnancy gingivitis may not proceed to periodontitis.