Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to find the occurrence of dental caries and gingivitis among pregnant women and to compare it with those in nonpregnant women. Materials and Methods: A total of 303 pregnant and 238 nonpregnant women were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi (M), Wardha. Dental caries and gingivitis were defined clinically according to the World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria. Results: Over 63.3% of pregnant women had caries, and 71.9% had gingivitis. A significant difference came out between pregnant women and nonpregnant women with regard to dental caries ( P = 0.0001) and gingivitis ( P = 0.0007). The pregnant women were 2.2 times more likely to suffer from dental caries and 1.94 times more from gingivitis compared to nonpregnant women. Dental caries was significantly seen in pregnant women above 25 years of age, illiterate, and homemakers. Poor oral hygiene, poor dental care knowledge, and poor attitude were all important risk factors for dental caries and gingivitis. Conclusion: Proper dental healthcare programs should be conducted to improve the dental health and to increase the awareness of hygienic practices in pregnant women.
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