Assessment of Knowledge about Pregnancy Gingivitis amongst Fresh Medical & Dental Graduates in Lahore – A Cross Sectional Survey

Aimen Malik; Rija Asghar; Muhammad Shairaz Sadiq; Ali Anwaar; Fareed Ahmed; Ayman Iftikhar

doi:10.29054/apmc/2021.1265

Aimen Malik Clinical Demonstrator, Oral Medicine & Diagnosis Department, Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, NUMS, Lahore Pakistan
Rija Asghar House Officer Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, Lahore Pakistan
Muhammad Shairaz Sadiq Associate Professor & Head of Department of Oral Medicine, Institute of Dentistry CMH, Lahore Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi Pakistan
Ali Anwaar Assistant Professor, community & Preventive Dentistry Department, Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College, Lahore National University of Medical Sciences, Lahore Pakistan
Fareed Ahmed Assistant Professor, Oral Medicine and Diagnosis, Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College National University of Medical Sciences, Lahore Pakistan
Ayman Iftikhar Clinical Demonstrator, Prosthodontics Department, Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore, National University of Medical Sciences, Lahore Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29054/apmc/2021.1265

Keywords: Gingivitis, Pregnancy gingivitis, Periodontal health, Fresh medical graduates, Awareness, Education, Dentists

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy gingivitis defined as the gingival inflammation initiated by plaque and exacerbated by endogenous sex steroid hormones. The level of progesterone can rise to 10 times than normal during pregnancy. Objective: To assess the knowledge of fresh medical and dental graduates about pregnancy gingivitis and to compare the level of awareness about pregnancy gingivitis among the fresh medical and dental graduates. Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Settings: The Dental Outpatient Department Institute of Dentistry CMH-Lahore Medical College Lahore Pakistan. Duration: July 2021 to December 2021. Methods: A Close ended Questionnaire constructed after comprehensive literature review and assessing questionnaire of different studies. Questionnaire is in English language and will be kept anonymous. Results: The individuals depicted in the study revealed 52.4% candidates were associated with public sector hospital/clinics whilst 47.6 % were attached with private sector. Maximum percentage of 33% never advised routine dental check-up to their patients. Surprisingly 43% of the study never referred their patient for dental evaluation or care to a dentist. Conclusion: Intensive oral health education during pregnancy leads to drastic improvement in knowledge and attitude. Practice, gingival health, and the number of filled teeth also improved to some extent.