Abstract
The aim of this study was to make a health care plan for pregnant women, by investigating periodontal disease prevalence and treatment needs in pregnant women. Oral examination was carried out using the "CPITN", indices for gingivitis, periodontitis, and calculus deposition and the "VPI" by inspection. A total of 1,612 subjects participated, all pregnant women who received oral examinations while attending classes for new mothers at health centers from 1990 to 1993. The average number of weeks into pregnancy for the subjects was 19.6 weeks. The average age of the women was 26.8 years. Most of the pregnant women, of all CPITN age groups, were coded 2, and a small fraction were coded 3 or 4, 94.2 % of these were found to be in need of some treatment. Almost all were aged 20〜29 years, and they were classified by the number of pregnancy weeks, and divided into 10 categories. 1. CPITN code 2 was most common during all pregant stages, especially at 23〜25 weeks. 2. Gingivitis G+ G++ G+++ also tended to increase at 23〜25 weeks of pregnancy. 3. Although the ratio of VPI Fair and Poor become high during weeks 23〜25 of pregnancy, VPI and degree of calculus appeared to recover in the later stages of pregnancy. 4. The ratio of CPITN code 2 and Cal+ showed the same tendency during the pregnancy stages. 5. The ratio of code 3 and 4 was very low, and there was no change during the pregnant stages. That is, it was comfirmed that gingivitis was not worsened by pregnancy. 6. Gingivitis during pregnancy showed a profound relationship between VPI and calculus, and it seemed to be affected by the condition of oral hygiene. In conclusion, to prevent the development of gingivitis especially during the intermediate stages of pregnancy, oral examinations at an early stage and instructions in oral hygiene are very important.
