Level Of Perception Regarding Dental Health Among Pregnant Women In Private Dental OPDs,Cross-Sectional Study In Karachi

Abstract

Introduction:

A woman experiences both happiness and anxiety during her pregnancy, which is characterized by notable physiological changes in her body caused by the female sex hormones in circulation. Because progesterone and estrogen levels fluctuate throughout pregnancy, pregnant women are more likely than the general population to develop oral health issues. During pregnancy, a number of oral changes are unavoidable. Immunological, dietary, and behavioral factors associated with pregnancy are believed to be involved.

Objective:

To determine the level of perception regarding dental health among pregnant women visiting private dental Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) in Karachi.

Methodology:

In this study, pregnant women who visited the dentistry outpatient department at Darul Sehat Hospital participated in a cross-sectional survey. Participants in the study gave their informed permission. The method of convenience sampling was employed to choose the participants.The estimated sample size was 155 patients after incorporating the prevalence of 78.7% with a 6.5% margin of error

Results:

Among 155 pregnant women the age distribution of participants indicates that the majority fall within the 23–26 years age group (41.9%), followed by those aged 27–30 years (31.6%). Around 20% combined twice-daily brushing with the use of mouthwash, indicating a relatively small group practicing more comprehensive oral hygiene. When asked about flossing habits, a significant majority (74.2%) reported not using dental floss, with only 25.8% indicating its use. This reflects limited adoption of interdental cleaning methods.

Conclusion:

Oral health counseling should be a fundamental part of prenatal care, and antenatal programs should stress the value of regular dental checkups. Women who do not work and those who do not frequently interface with dental services should receive special attention because they are among the groups most at risk of having insufficient information about oral health.