Association between Perceived Oral Symptoms and Presence of Clinically Diagnosed Oral Diseases in a Sample of Pregnant Women in Malaysia

Bibliographic Data

ID15474208
AuthorsEma Yunita Sari (Universiti Sains Malaysia), Norkhafizah Saddki (0000-0002-2977-5817, Universiti Sains Malaysia, corresponding author), Azizah Yusoff (Universiti Sains Malaysia)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue19
Pages7337-7337
Publication date2020-10-08
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17197337
PMID33049972
OpenAlexW3092280084
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited22

The integration of oral health into primary health care denotes the important role of medical counterparts as the front liners in antenatal care to help screen mothers for oral symptoms and refer them to dentists accordingly. However, the validity of self-perceived oral health status is inconclusive. This study determined the association between self-perceived oral symptoms and the presence of clinically diagnosed oral diseases in a sample of pregnant women. A total of 192 pregnant women participated in this cross-sectional study. Clinical oral examinations were performed to record dental caries experience, gingival health and periodontal health. The women were also asked about their oral symptoms. Most women had at least one oral symptom (84.9%): cavitated tooth (62.0%), bad breath (38.5%), bleeding gums (28.6%), and toothache (22.9%). About half of the women had untreated dental caries (58.9%), and the odds were significantly higher in women who complained of having cavitated tooth. About half of the women had moderate to severe gingivitis (53.7%), and the odds were significantly higher in women who complained of bleeding gums. About half had periodontal pockets (46.3%), and the odds were higher in women who complained of bleeding gums and bad breath although lower in women who complained of swollen gums. In conclusion, the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease among pregnant women in this study were relatively high. The presence of untreated dental caries, moderate and severe gingivitis, and periodontal pockets were significantly associated with their corresponding oral symptoms

Bleeding on probing · Cross-sectional study · Gingivitis · Logistic regression · Odds · Odds ratio · Oral health · Periodontitis · Toothache · Cleft Lip and Palate Research · Dental Health and Care Utilization · Dentistry · Medicine · Oral microbiology and periodontitis research · Internal Medicine