Aim:

To compare the periodontal health of pregnant and non-pregnant women by applying the Community Periodontal Index (CPI).

Materials and methods:

In an observational, cross-sectional study, 100 pregnant women (PREG) and 50 non-pregnant women (NonPREG) were recruited at the Dr. Raúl F. Lucini Provincial Maternity Hospital in Córdoba City. The CPI was determined in the 6 sextants of the mouth using a WHO 621 periodontal probe. The data were analyzed with Infostat SP software. P <0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

70% of the patients were 18 to 25 years old. In the PREG group, CPI Code 3 was the most frequent, present in 240 sextants (40.1%), while in the non-PREG group, CPI Code 2 was the most frequent, with 39 sextants (43%). Treatment needs in both study groups are oral hygiene instruction, supra- and/or subgingival instrumentation, and/or correction of plaque retentive margins.

Conclusions:

Code 3 was the most frequent among pregnant women, which corresponded to Periodontal Treatment Code (CTP) 2. CPI 1 and 2 were the most frequent in non-preg-nant women, corresponding to CTP 1 and 2. This periodontal clinical condition can be treated with initial dental hygiene therapy, which can be performed by general dentists.