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Assessment of periodontal health status in postmenopausal women visiting dental hospital from in and around Meerut city: Cross-sectional observational study

Background:

Puberty, menses, pregnancy, and menopause are the different phases of a woman's life which have a varied influence on oral health. During the menopause, women go through biological and endocrine changes, particularly in their sex steroid hormone production which affects their health. Because the oral mucosa contains estrogen receptors, variations in hormone levels can be seen directly in the oral cavity leading to a few oral conditions and diseases seen more frequently during postmenopausal years.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to assess periodontal health status in postmenopausal women in and around Meerut city.

Materials and Methods:

The study sample comprised ninety postmenopausal women. History of menopause was recorded, and the dental examinations were done by measuring the following parameters of periodontal health: plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket probing depth, and Russell's periodontal index. The collected data were subjected to statistical analyses.

Results and Conclusion:

In the study group, mean age was 55 years, mean missing teeth were 10.3, mean duration of menopause was 9.23. Eleven percent females were completely edentulous, and 5 females had never brushed. Mean PI-s was 1.99, mean GI-s was 1.74, mean BOP was 52.85, and mean Russell's periodontal index was 4.34. Eleven patients were at the initial stages of destructive periodontal disease, 34 had established destructive periodontal disease while thirty patients had the terminal periodontal disease. These findings suggest that females after menopause are at a risk of developing destructive periodontal disease if proper oral hygiene practices are not followed.

Effects of endogenous sex hormones on the periodontium--review of literature

Hormones are specific regulatory molecules that have potent effects on the major determinants of the development and the integrity of the skeleton and oral cavity including periodontal tissues. It is clear that periodontal manifestations occur when an imbalance of these steroid hormones take place. The authors conducted a Medline search up to 2004 and in addition, a manual search was also performed including bibliographies of relevant papers, review articles and books. This review focuses on the effects of endogenous sex hormones on the periodontium and the goal was to inform and update practitioners' knowledge about the impact of these hormones on periodontal status. In addition, this review article will analyze how these hormones influence the periodontium at different life stages such as puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and post-menopause. Moreover, the effects of contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies on the periodontium will be discussed. It is clear that endogenous sex steroid hormones play significant roles in modulating the periodontal tissue responses. A better understanding of the periodontal changes to varying hormonal levels throughout life can help the dental practitioner in diagnosis and treatment.

Influence of sex hormones on the periodontium

OBJECTIVES

Sex hormones have long been considered to play an influential role on periodontal tissues, bone turnover rate, wound healing and periodontal disease progression. The objectives of this review article are to (1) address the link between sex hormones and the periodontium, (2) analyse how these hormones influence the periodontium at different life times and (3) discuss the effects of hormone supplements/replacement on the periodontium.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two autonomous searches were performed in English language utilizing Medline, Premedline and Pubmed as the online databases. Publications up to 2002 were selected and further reviewed. In addition, a manual search was also performed including specific related journals and books.

RESULTS

It is certain that sexual hormones play a key role in periodontal disease progression and wound healing. More specifically, these effects seem to differentiate by gender as well as lifetime period. In addition, the influence of sex hormones can be minimized with good plaque control and with hormone replacement.

CONCLUSION

Despite profound research linking periodontal condition with sex hormones kinetics, more definitive molecular mechanisms and therapy still remain to be determined.