Effect of socioeconomic status on dental caries during pregnancy.

Abstract

It is generally agreed that people with low socioeconomic status have a significantly worse oral and general health compared to people with higher socioeconomic status. The aim of the study was to find out the role of socioeconomic status of pregnant women on their oral health by evaluating the dental caries risk factor, the salivary <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> count and DMFT index. A total of 50 first time pregnant women were randomly sampled and were divided into different socioeconomic strata following the Kuppuswamy socioeconomic status scale. DMFT index and microbiological assessment of dental caries risk factor parameter, the salivary <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> colony forming units, were carried out during the three trimesters and postpartum period. The observations were compared with 50 non-pregnant women of same age group. Of the randomly sampled subjects, majority of the pregnant women (28/50) of the study group were of middle/lower middle class, 11 pregnant women were of upper middle class, and 11 were of the lower/upper lower class. When followed in their three trimesters and postpartum period, statistically significant increase in the salivary <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> colony forming units was noted in 2^nd trimester, 3^rd trimester and postpartum period (<i>P</i> value < 0.05) of all pregnant women. Comparison of the caries risk factor between the pregnant women of three socioeconomic strata, however, revealed that no particular class was at a higher risk for dental caries. This study gives an insight into the possible changing trends towards awareness for oral hygiene in various socioeconomic strata of pregnant women.