DENTAL STATUS AND ITS SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING A MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN INDIA

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of present study was to estimate the oral hygiene, gingival and periodontal status in a sample of pregnant women and to explore the association of various socio-demographic factors on the oral hygiene status. MATHERIAL AND METHODS: Pregnant women in varying stages of pregnancy attending the district maternity hospital at Udaipur city constituted the target population. Clinical evaluation was done for oral hygiene status in addition gingival status and periodontal status. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in mean gingival score with increase in trimester. Pocket depths of 6-8 mm were only prevalent (8.7%) in the 3rd trimester. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the best predictors in the descending order for oral hygiene index were occupation of husband, trimester, income, occupation, age, whereas occupation of husband, age and income provided a variance of 19.7% in debris level. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that Gingival and periodontal statuses deteriorated as the trimester of pregnancy proceed and various sociodemographic factors in addition to trimester significantly influenced oral hygiene status. Hence, oral health intervention programs should be targeted to the risk groups.