Lesions of the oral mucosa and periodontal disease behavior in pregnant patients.

AIMS: A study is made to contrast the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease, the needs for periodontal treatment, and the prevalence of lesions of the oral mucosa in pregnant (study group) and non-pregnant women.

STUDY

DESIGN

During the period 1991-1999, a prospective observational study was made of 7952 women seen in the Dental School of De La Salle Bajío University (Leon, Gto. Mexico). The following variables were documented: age, disease antecedents, simplified periodontal index, and lesions of the oral mucosa. Two patient groups were defined: pregnant and non-pregnant women exhibiting a similar age distribution. The data were presented as percentages, and comparisons were made based on the chi-square test.

RESULTS

Pregnancy was not found to be a decisive factor for the development of periodontal disease, no differences in the prevalence of gingivitis (54.54 and 50.50%) and periodontitis (31.82 and 31.75%) being observed between the two groups. However, the severity of periodontitis was significantly greater among the pregnant women (18.18% versus 9.88%; p< 0.01). The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions was similar in both groups (30%), 13 lesions being identified in the study group, with a predominance of leukoedema, traumatic ulceration, red traumatic lesions, benign migratory glossitis (geographic tongue), irritative keratosis and pyogenic granuloma. The non-pregnant women in turn exhibited 57 lesions. Pyogenic granuloma and benign migratory glossitis exhibited significant differences between the two groups (p< 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Gingivitis and periodontitis showed similar prevalences in pregnant and non-pregnant women, though severe periodontitis was more frequent among the former. Pyogenic granuloma and benign migratory glossitis were the lesions with the greatest prevalences during pregnancy.