ORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN PREGNANT WOMEN IN PAKISTAN

Introduction: Pregnancy is a state of physiological condition that brings about various changes in the oral cavity along with other physiological changes taking place throughout the female body. Gingival hyperplasia, gingivitis, pyogenic granulomas and various salivary alterations are some of the changes commonly witnessed among pregnant women. Objectives of the study: The main objective of our study is to find the oral health challenges faced by the pregnant women in Pakistan. Methodology of the study: This cross sectional study was conducted in Allied Hospital Faisalabad during 2019 to 2020. A convenience sample of 100 pregnant women was invited to participate by a dental assistant. Results: We select 100 patients for our study and these are pregnant women who completed the survey. The mean age of the participants ranged from 16 to 40 years. More than half (59.3%) reported dental problems during pregnancy, less than a third (30.5%) saw a dentist in the last six months, only 10% had received any information about perinatal oral health and many (>50%) were unaware of the potential impact of poor maternal oral health on pregnancy and infant outcomes. Conclusion: The present study indicates that the oral health status is not appropriate among the pregnant women. On the other hand, the high prevalence of dental plaque, poor periodontal condition and unsatisfied treatment require a preventive population based strategy with an emphasis on the improvement of the oral self-care for the pregnant women