CARIES STATUS OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN SOUTH-EAST HUNGARY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

The aim of this study was to collect data regarding the caries status of a well determined group of pregnant women – as there has been no epidemiological survey of the dental health status of this group in Hungary, for more than ten years.

Methods: After ethical approval, the socioeconomic and demographic data of 130 women who were in the second half of pregnancy were collected via questionnaire between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2013 at the University of Szeged, Dental School. They arrived at the dental school after referral by district nurses in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Outpatient Clinic. As part of their prenatal care program they received information about a possibility of an oral examination and they themselves had to book the appointment and go to the dental clinic where the screening took place. Only systemically healthy women took part in the study. Their caries status was assessed by two calibrated dentist according to WHO (1997) guidelines. The DMFS and DMFT indices were calculated and compared with the socio-demographic data using one-way ANOVA. Third molars were examined but not included.

Results: The age distribution and number of pregnancies of the women in the study group was similar to that reported for all pregnant women in Hungary in 2011. However, their educational level differed in that 61 (46%) had received higher education, 86 (52%) worked in professions and 116 (89%) were city dwellers. In this respect city dwellers and highly educated women were overrepresented in the group. The mean age of the pregnant woman was 31 years. They had a mean DMFS index of 19.41, and their mean DMFT index was 10.05. Their caries status was related to the age (p=0.008) and to the number of pregnancies (p=0.007). However, no correlation was found with education, occupation and place of residence.

Conclusion: The caries status of this study group was better than in previous examinations in Hungary, besides socio-demographic conditions, probably the better motivation of women who attended the screening had a major influence on this result. The importance of the study was to obtain information about pregnant womens oral health status; since future mothers knowledge and attitude greatly affect the oral health status of their children.