Pregnancy is a modified physiological condition that had the repercussion on the oral cavity in general and periodontal tissues in particular [1]. The microbial factor is the main cause etiologic of periodontal diseases with associating local or general risk factors [2]. These risk factors include sex, age, occlusal trauma, ethnicities, low-level education, poor economic status, smoking, poor oral hygiene, systemic diseases, gestational age, and hormonal variation (progesterone and estrogen) [2] [3]. Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone raise awareness of the gum and periodontal, resulting in hypervascularization, an edematous and congestive state of periodontal tissues. These hormonal changes weaken periodontal tissues and lead to inflammation of the gums, gum bleeding, gum hyperplasia, dental mobility, or tooth loss [4] [5].

The relationship between pregnancy and periodontal health has been well documented in the literature [6]. Indeed, several studies have shown high frequencies and variables depending on the environment. The frequency of 11% - 75% has been reported in America [7], 30% -70% in Europe [8], 11% - 76% in Asia [9] and 4% - 67% in Africa [10] [11]. Periodontal diseases serve both as reservoirs of bacteria, which can migrate and reach the placental barrier of the fetus [12]. Premature birth [13], low infant weight [14] [15] [16], increased time at conception [17] and premature rupture of the membrane [18] have been reported and attributed to the presence of periodontal diseases in pregnant women. Of several studies of periodontal disease published in the Democratic Republic of Congo [19] [20], non-one has evaluated these pathologies in pregnant women in PC care.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of periodontal diseases during pregnancy and to identify the different risk factors for these diseases in pregnant women.

It is a cross-sectional and analytical study based on the observation of the pregnant women consulted over a period from August to December 31, 2018, was conducted. A pre-established survey for this study combined with a stomatological examination was used. The study population was all pregnant women admitted to prenatal consultation at the General Reference Military Hospital of BOBILA (GRHB)/Kinshasa City. Included in the study was the pregnant woman attending the GRHB (Camp KOKOLO) who freely given informed consent, responded to the survey questionnaire, and underwent a stomatological examination. However, any pregnant woman who responded to the interview, but did not give initially information about her oral hygiene before pregnancy, had a prosthesis, had taken antibiotics for the last 3 months, and was treated for periodontal diseases were excluded from the study. The sample size was calculated using the following formula: n ≥ (Z² × p (1 − p)/d² in with n: Represent the sample size; Z: Confidence level according to the normal distribution (at 95%, Z = 1.96); p: Estimated proportion of the population (p = 4%) and d: Tolerated margin of error (5%). Because of lacking study evaluated the frequency of periodontal disease during pregnancy in our country, the present study referred to the frequency of 4% reported by Cheikh Tidiane CISSE, 2015 in Dakar, which the population is close to that of DRC. After applying the formula, a size of 59 pregnant women was obtained and extended to 83 pregnant women. The interesting variables were socio-demographic data and anamnestic information. On clinical examination, the Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), and Periodontal Disease Index (PDI) indices were assessed for periodontal status. Greene and Vermillion’s Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S) (1964) was used. Patient recruitment was done every day of consultation in the GRHB according to the availability of the specialists working in this Hospital. The data was collected during the consultations. Firstly, the socio-demographic data, clinical and risk factors data were collected during the interview. In the second step, the clinical examination of the oral cavity was carried out, and thirdly, the assessment of periodontal status by various index scores was evaluated. According to the OHI-S index, the examination was done on the faces of the following six teeth: 16-11-26-36-31-41. The index is composed of two elements: the debris index and the tartar index. The debris index score (DI) was scored as follows: 0: No deposits; 1: Invisible deposit; 2: Deposits less than 2/3 of the cervical tooth and 3: Deposits greater than 2/3 of the cervical tooth. The tartar index (TI) was scored as 0: no pie; 1: Tartar no more than 0.5 mm of thickness; 2: Tartar no more than 1 mm thickness; 3: Tartar more than 1 mm thickness. On the Greene and Vermillon scale, each patient’s hygiene was determined as follows: Perfect: 0; good: 0.1 - 1.0; satisfactory: 1.1 - 2.0 and bad: 2.1 - 6.0. BOP was calculated as the sum of the surfaces that bled after probing divided by the number of the surfaces examined. The bleeding was assessed 20 seconds after the passage of a periodontal probe into the sulcus. The examination started on the distobuccal surface of the maxillary right second molar and continued anteriorly to the distobuccal surface of the maxillary left second molar. Then, the disto-lingual surface of the maxillary right second molar was examined to the disto-lingual surface of the maxillary left second molar. The mandibular teeth were then examined in the same manner, starting on the distobuccal surface of the mandibular right second molar. The degree of Bleeding on Probing (BOP) index was as 1: No bleeding in the survey; 2: Bleeding in the survey. The diagnosis of gingivitis was made if the gingival index was above 10% or the BOP index is above 10% with survey values in the normal range. Gingivitis was classified either localized (BOP score ≥ 10% and ≤30%) or generalized (BOP score > 30%, PP < 4 mm and PA interproximal < 3 mm on all sites). The PDI index is to measure gingivitis and periodontitis. Scores determine it: 1 to 3 mm: Gingivitis, and 4 to 6 mm: Periodontitis. The Chi-square tests, the Student t-test were used to determine differences in the distribution of variables. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to determine the factors associated with periodontal diseases. The calculation of the odd Ratio with a confidence interval (IC) at 95% was used to estimate the degree of association. The results were significant at p < 0.05.

Out of 105 pregnant women, 83 cases of well-documented pregnant women were included. The most age group of the pregnant women was 20 - 29 age year, with a predominance of stay-at-home mothers (75.9%) and married cases (73.4%). They had an average economic status (56.6%) and a secondary education level of 63.8% (Table 1). Table 2 shows that age, marital status, socioeconomic level,

occupation, and gestity were not associated with significant differences between the pregnant women with gingival bleeding and those without gingival bleeding. However, a statistically significant difference was found between the pregnant women with or without gingival bleeding for education level and gestational age variables (p < 0.005). On the univariate analysis, the association between gingival bleeding and non-level of study, low living standard ad gestational age at the third trimester was found. However, the only independent factor associated with gingival bleeding on the multivariate analysis was the gestational age of the pregnant women p < 0.005 (Table 3). Most of the pregnant women had been an age range of 14 - 29 years, an average economic status, poor oral hygiene, had

localized gravidities gingivitis without loss of attachment in the 3^rd trimester (Table 4). Oral hygiene of pregnant women was poor for all trimesters but with a predominance in the third semester, including generalized gingivitis and periodontitis. The number of gestity less than four was correlated with localized bleeding gingivitis Index and with a bad OHI-S index. Mean that, the bleeding gingivitis Index and oral hygiene Index is without causing a problem when increasing the number of gestity of pregnant women.

Studies on periodontal diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo exist; however, no studies to date have evaluated these pathologies in pregnant women.

BOP: Bleeding on probing; OHIS: Oral hygien index simplified; PDI: Periodontal disease index.

This study aimed to determine the frequency of periodontal disease and the risk factors associated in pregnant women. The main results of this study show that the overall frequency of periodontal disease is high in pregnant women (79%) that mostly had 20 - 29 years of age, with an average economic status. The level of education and gestational age although were significantly associated with periodontal diseases (p < 0.005) to univariate analysis, however, only gestational age was determined as an independent factor associated with gingival bleeding in multivariate analysis (p < 0.005). Most of the pregnant women had localized gravidities gingivitis without loss of attachment and periodontitis during all trimesters, but with a predominance in the third trimester. The high overall frequency of periodontal diseases in this study was corroborated with the study of Diawara et al. [21], and Tchonang [22] with respectively 91%. This can be explained by the sexual hormonal action on periodontal tissues. Hormonal impregnation during pregnancy results in greater fluidity in the connective tissue matrix that lead to hypervascularization, edema tendency, and congestive state. Progesterone also acts on gum vascular permeability, inducing proliferation and vascular new formation. Thus, under the influence of hormones, the number of sub-gingival bacteria increases, and the immunodeficiency caused by the concentration of progesterone induces a reduction of IL-6, lower production of TIMPs, and an increase in proteolytic enzyme activity. The secretion of a higher level of TNF-α in periodontal tissues would promote the virulence of periodontal microorganisms and lead to more inflammation [23]. This modification of the connective periodontal tissues, combined with the accumulation of dental plaque, would promote the aggravation of periodontal diseases.

Based on the socio-demographic characteristics used in this study, the majority of pregnant women were 20 - 29 years of age with an average age of 30 (±SD 2.6) of which 73.4% of cases were married women, with an average socio-economic level (56.6%) and a secondary education level (63.8%). The present results were similar to the result of Tchonang [22] for the age group, and Diawara et al. [21], Keltoum et al. [24], Ibrahim et al. [25] for frequency. This age group is most affected because considered as the period of intense sexual activity among girls. Married women compared to other studies [23] [26], were numerous in this study. The study took place during the campaign launched by the Government of the Republic for the military officer’s wives and the lack of entrepreneurship by these pregnant women does not allow them to tie the two ends of the month. From a clinical observation view, gum bleeding was detected during the pregnancy period, but with a high peak at the second trimester. The results corroborate those of other authors [25] [27]. The pain has high levels of concentration of sex hormones in the bloodstream, which partly explain tissue alterations. The risk of developing gingivitis varies depending on the plasma level of steroid hormones during pregnancy. Its increase leads to greater fluidity in connective tissues resulting in hypervascularization, an edematic tendency, and a congestive state that would accentuate pre-existing gingivitis. From the first to the third stage, the pregnant woman has poor oral hygiene, localized gravitic gingivitis without loss of clinical attachment. The level of oral hygiene assessed by the simplified oral hygiene index of pregnant women was 38.2% in the third trimester and a significant correlation between the age of the pregnancy and oral hygiene was observed as found by several authors [22] [24]. During the last month and the first 3 months in postpartum, there was a significant regression of gravidities gingivitis following a sharp drop in steroid hormone production [2] that was similar to the results of Tilakaratne et al. [28] and Taani et al. [29]. Some authors [22] [27] [30], showed that 38% to 93.8% of pregnant women had generalized gingivitis, observed at all ages of pregnancy. Similarly, according to the Periodontal Disease Index, the majority of pregnant women had gingivitis (69.6%) compared to periodontitis (30.4%) in the third trimester. Rosanna Hess [30] had found a rate of 24% of gingivitis and 49% of periodontitis in pregnant women in the first and second trimesters. Pregnant women tend to have significantly the pocket depth due to gum hypertrophy.

The present study is certainly the first to assess the periodontal diseases in the pregnant women of the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, it has some limits; the study did not observe and follow pregnant women until they were given birth. As a result, this study was unable to assess post-birth complications.

Periodontal impairments are common during pregnancy in our environment and they are favored by low socioeconomic and education levels. The periodontal diseases occur mainly in the third trimester and were significantly associated with gestational age in pregnant women. Bleeding is the most common symptom, especially in the second trimester.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Edize, E., Fidele, N.B., Mwimba, M., Augustin, M.M., Kazadi, E.K. and Bourley, S.I. (2021) Periodontal Diseases in Pregnant Women in Prenatal Consultation. Open Journal of Stomatology, 11, 349-359. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojst.2021.119031