title: Oral health education and therapy reduces gingivitis during pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnant women demonstrate increases in gingivitis despite similar plaque levels to non-pregnant counterparts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate an intensive protocol aimed at reducing gingivitis in pregnant women and provide pilot data for large-scale randomized controlled trials investigating oral hygiene measures to reduce pregnancy gingivitis and alter maternity outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty participants between 16 and 24 weeks gestation with Gingival Index (GI) scores ≥2 at ≥50% of tooth sites were enrolled. Plaque index (PI), gingival inflammation (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment levels (CAL) were recorded at baseline and 8 weeks. Dental prophylaxis was performed at baseline and oral hygiene instructions at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded at parturition. Mixed-model analysis of variance was used to compare clinical measurements at baseline and 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant reductions in PI, GI, PD, and CAL occurred over the study period. Mean whole mouth PI and GI scores decreased approximately 50% and the percentage of sites with PI and GI ≥2 decreased from 40% to 17% and 53% to 21.8%, respectively. Mean decreases in whole mouth PD and CAL of 0.45 and 0.24 mm, respectively, were seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intensive oral hygiene regimen decreased gingivitis in pregnant patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Geisinger
authors.forename: Nicolaas C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Geurs
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.forename: Maninder
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Vassilopoulos
authors.forename: Suzanne P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cliver
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hauth
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002594:Cetylpyridinium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003376:Counseling; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014002:Tin Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D014002:Tin Fluorides; D014100:Toothpastes; D002594:Cetylpyridinium
keywords: behaviour modification; gingivitis; inflammation; oral hygiene; pregnancy; preterm birth