PLASMA FEMALE SEX-HORMONE LEVELS AND GINGIVITIS IN PREGNANCY

This investigation has confirmed that there is an increase in gingival inflammation between the 14th and 30th weeks of pregnancy and that this will occur despite a fall in the amount of plaque at the dento-gingival junction. This implicates a further factor in addition to plaque accumulation to explain the increased inflammation. It was confirmed that there are marked increases in the plasma levels of estradiol and progesterone between the 14th and 30th weeks of pregnancy but it was not possible to demonstrate a direct association between these increases and the increase in gingival inflammation.