Periodontal health status in relation to physicochemical characteristics of saliva among pre-menopausal and postmenopausal women in Baghdad city-Iraq

Abstract

Background: Menopause can bring oral health problems and also associated with significant adversechanges in the orofacial complex. After menopause, women become more susceptible to periodontaldisease due to deficiency of estrogen hormone. Current study aimed to evaluate the periodontal healthstatus in relation to salivary constituent including pH, flow rate and some elements (Magnesium, Calciumand inorganic phosphorus) of pre and post-menopause women.Materials and Methods: Periodontal health status of 52 women aged 48-50 years old (26 pre-menopauseand 26 post-menopause) were examined including (gingival index, plaque index, calculus index, probingpocket depth and clinical attachment level). Salivary sample was collected for two women groups, pHand flow rate was recorded, and also biochemical analysis was assessed for some salivary elementsinclude (Magnesium, Calcium and inorganic phosphorus). Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis.Results: Salivary pH and flow rate of post-menopause women were found significantly lower than those ofpre-menopause women, where as the mean of gingival index, probing pocket depth and attachmentlevel indices significantly higher in post-menopause women. The level of salivary magnesium ion wassignificantly higher in pre-menopause women; also the level of calcium and inorganic phosphorus waslower in post-menopause women with non-significant difference.Conclusions: This study has shown that the importance of preventive dentistry increases with aging in women