Risk Assessment of Caries in Pregnancy

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of salivary testing in dental caries assessment and to determine a possible relationship between oral hygiene, diet, salivary cariogenic flora, saliva secretion rate, buffer capacity of saliva, salivary pH and caries incidence during pregnancy. Another objective is to introduce a prevention program in teaching institutions.
Material and methods: The longitudinal and descriptive study was conducted from January 2010 to September 2011. Thirty-five pregnant women, aged between 20–35 years, were examined during the three trimesters of pregnancy in order to evaluate the caries risk factors. The study investigated the Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacilli count in saliva; the salivary pH and the buffer capacity of saliva by using a salivary testing kit (CRT Bacteria and Buffer). These tests were non-invasive and well-accepted by all women.
Results: The results showed an increase in the number of Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacilli in the second part of pregnancy (>105 CFU/ml saliva). An exception is the 20–24 years age group, where we observed a decrease in the third trimester. Also, their frequency increases with parity and women’s age. In terms of pH, we observed a decrease in the first trimester (6.35), but in the third trimester the pH was less acid (6.85).
Conclusions: Microbiological evaluations suggest that pregnant women present a high caries risk, but the implementation of preventive measures such as a rigorous hygiene and balanced diet prevent the appearance of new carious lesions.