IADR Abstract Archives
The Impact of Hypertension on the Oral Health During Pregnancy.
Objectives: Pregnancy comprises a panoply of systemic changes that increase the susceptibility for some oral diseases. Several studies suggest a relationship between oral health status and cardiovascular risk factors, such as arterial hypertension. Moreover, the oral hygiene habits of the Portuguese pregnant population have been previously described as ineffective and high levels of dental biofilm have been reported. Therefore, we aimed to assess and correlate the oral health status of healthy and hypertensive pregnant women with their oral hygiene habits.
Methods: Participants were recruited at the Obstetrics Department of a tertiary centre, between 30 and 32 weeks of gestation. Decayed-missing-filled surfaces index (DMFS) and periodontal status (clinical attachment loss-CAL, bleeding on probing-BOP and plaque index-PI) were assessed in ten healthy(H) and seventeen arterial hypertensive pregnant participants(AHT). Oral health hygiene habits during pregnancy were recorded via questionnaires. U-Mann Whitney test, Spearman correlation and Point-Biserial correlation were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Hypertensive pregnant women scored significantly higher in all periodontal parameters when compared to healthy pregnant women (CAL≥4mm: H=2.77±3.96; AHT=21.05±18.57; p=0.007; BOP: H=13.79±15.49, AHT=27.01±11.94, p=0.003; PI: H=57.72±15.65, AHT=86.24±13.32, p<0.01), whereas there was no difference concerning DMFS (p=0.13). No differences were observed between the groups regarding the frequency of toothbrushing, use of complementary mean of oral hygiene or number of dental appointments in the previous year. Toothbrushing frequency was negatively associated with BOP (r=-0.41; p=0.033). Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between the use of a complementary means of oral hygiene, BOP (r=-0.43; p=0.026) and CAL≥4mm (r=-0.40; p=0.039).
Conclusions: The periodontal health of hypertensive women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy was significantly worse than healthy women. Oral health habits highly impacted periodontal health. It is fundamental to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining good oral health during and after pregnancy in this population of hypertensive women.
Methods: Participants were recruited at the Obstetrics Department of a tertiary centre, between 30 and 32 weeks of gestation. Decayed-missing-filled surfaces index (DMFS) and periodontal status (clinical attachment loss-CAL, bleeding on probing-BOP and plaque index-PI) were assessed in ten healthy(H) and seventeen arterial hypertensive pregnant participants(AHT). Oral health hygiene habits during pregnancy were recorded via questionnaires. U-Mann Whitney test, Spearman correlation and Point-Biserial correlation were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Hypertensive pregnant women scored significantly higher in all periodontal parameters when compared to healthy pregnant women (CAL≥4mm: H=2.77±3.96; AHT=21.05±18.57; p=0.007; BOP: H=13.79±15.49, AHT=27.01±11.94, p=0.003; PI: H=57.72±15.65, AHT=86.24±13.32, p<0.01), whereas there was no difference concerning DMFS (p=0.13). No differences were observed between the groups regarding the frequency of toothbrushing, use of complementary mean of oral hygiene or number of dental appointments in the previous year. Toothbrushing frequency was negatively associated with BOP (r=-0.41; p=0.033). Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between the use of a complementary means of oral hygiene, BOP (r=-0.43; p=0.026) and CAL≥4mm (r=-0.40; p=0.039).
Conclusions: The periodontal health of hypertensive women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy was significantly worse than healthy women. Oral health habits highly impacted periodontal health. It is fundamental to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining good oral health during and after pregnancy in this population of hypertensive women.