Cambios hormonales asociados al embarazo. Afectación gingivo-periodontal

Abstract

Pregnancy gingivitis is a proliferative, vascular and non-specific inflammation accompanied by a wide cellular inflammatory infiltrate. Clinically it is characterized by an increased gingival redness and bleeding on probing index, gingival margin augmentation and hyperplasia of the interdental papillae. It is extremely common and affects 30-100% of all pregnant women. Even though it seems that during pregnancy susceptibility of gingival tissues to inflammation is related to altered hormonal levels, the exat mechanism by which they exert their effects remain unknown. The most significant hormonal change is the increase in the production of estrogens and progesterone. Tissue´s response to female sex hormones depends on the circulating hormone type, the estrogens/progesterone ratio and on the tissular concentration of the hormone. Their effects on the gingival tissues are diverse and tend to be classified into four main groups: vascular, cellular, microbiological and immunological changes.