Awareness of Gynecologists in Kuwait Regarding Association between Periodontal Diseases and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Pregnancy is the stage accompanied by complex changes in the physiology affecting the whole body including the oral cavity and an increase in the pregnancy hormone levels during this stage often compromises gingival and periodontal health. There is a wide variation in the prevalence of gingival and periodontal disease during pregnancy (30% to 100%)[1]. Changes in periodontal microbiology comprise of increase in the relative proportion of anaerobic bacteria in addition to the rise in Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Prevotella intermedia [2]. Microbial changes together with the effects of hormones on the immune response and microvasculature contribute to increased gingival inflammation during pregnancy.