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The periodontal conditions of 2424 pregnant and 1565 non-pregnant women were assessed according to the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). The aim of this survey was to obtain information which is necessary for the planning of preventive programs of periodontal disease for pregnant women. 95% of the pregnant women and 96% of the non-pregnant women had some signs of periodontal disease. The % of pregnant women having 4 or 5 mm pockets was significantly higher than that of non-pregnant women, increased with the month of pregnancy, reached a maximum of 31% in the 8-month group, but decreased to the control level in the 9-month group. These changes were interpreted to suggest that the increase of pocket depth during pregnancy was caused by gingival enlargement rather than by periodontal destruction. The results show that pregnant women had a healthier periodontal condition when compared with non-pregnant women, i.e., the number of sextants with healthy periodontal tissues was higher, the % of people having deep pockets (6 mm or deeper) was lower, and the need for prophylaxis was lower in pregnant than in non-pregnant women. These findings suggest that a special program of periodontal disease prevention for pregnant women is not necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1984, 1986 and 1988 a mixed-longitudinal study was carried out to determine the prevalence of plaque, calculus, gingival bleeding and type of tooth cleaning device amongst school children in Morogoro, Tanzania. The background parameters considered were age, geographical location and sex. The reproducibility of the methods of diagnosis was assessed. In general, more children possessed a chewing stick than a toothbrush, except urban children. The prevalence of visible plaque decreased and the prevalence of calculus increased with increasing age. Gingival bleeding was not age-dependent. Urban children had significantly more surfaces covered with visible plaque, but had a significantly lower prevalence of calculus, than rural children. Boys showed a significantly higher prevalence of visible plaque and calculus than girls. In the majority of those with gingival bleeding, only 1 of the 6 examined papillae was involved, most often the mesio-lingual papilla of the 3.6. The children had not been subjected to organized oral health care and professional intervention. The findings of the study indicate the need for organized school-based oral hygiene programmes in the area in order to improve the periodontal health of these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the periodontal status and treatment needs, using the CPITN index, in a population aged 7 to 60 years residing in the fluorosis area of Khouribga and the non-fluorosis area of Beni-Mellal, Morocco. A total of 2378 subjects was studied. In the youngest age groups, more subjects and sextants from Khouribga than from Beni-Mellal were free of periodontal diseases. Conversely, in Beni-Mellal, subjects in the youngest age groups presented a higher mean number of sextants with calculus than those from Khouribga. In combining the 2 areas, 1.3% of the 2319 dentate subjects examined needed no treatment and 98.7% needed at least oral hygiene instructions (TN1). The present study, based on the CPITN index, demonstrated in both areas a high prevalence of gingivitis, and a relatively low prevalence of deep pocketing, occurring on the average in less than half a sextant in the total populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]