[A study on sex hormones in gingival crevicular fluid and black pigmented bacteria in subgingival plaque of pregnant women].

Gingivitis is one of the most common oral diseases. It is caused by dental plaque and by the factors produced/released from it. The black pigmented bacteria in subgingival dental plaque are thought to be the periodontopathogens. Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis have been shown to be closely associated with human gingivitis. Prevetella intermedia can use female sex hormones such as progesterone or estradiol as a source of nutrients. In pregnant women, the concentrations of progesterone and estradiol are markedly increased in serum and both are accumulated and found in the gingival tissue. The purpose of this study was to test levels of female sex hormones in gingival crevicular fluid and to observe the relationship between hormones and black pigmented bacteria in subgingival plaque. The results showed that the amount of progesterone found in the gingival crevicular fluid and percentage of black pigmented bacteria in subgingival plaque of pregnant women were markedly higher than in the postpartum stage. The percentage of black pigmented bacteria was positively correlated with the progesterone level, pregnancy and the severity of the gingivitis. Severity of the gingivitis was positively correlated with both the plaque index and the percentage of black pigmented bacteria in subgingival plaque.