DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2015.v02i03.004

Pages: 229-236

Abstract: Periodontal disease is a pathological inflammatory condition of the gum and bone support surrounding the teeth. It is a risk factor for poor pregnancy outcomes including Preterm birth (delivery before 37 weeks of gestation) and low birth weight (birth weight lower than 2500 gr) which are both still considered to be the greatest problems in obstetrical medicine. Consequently it seems reasonably important to find out whether the healthcare providers who are most visited by pregnant women are aware of the periodontal disease and its relationship with poor pregnancy outcomes. To compare the awareness of oral health and periodontal disease among different groups of health care providers. Also to identify the lack of information about oral health among health care providers. A cross sectional study was done depends on a self administered, structured questionnaire randomly distributed after official approval taken from five hospitals in Riyadh. The questionnaire had been distributed among 150 of health care providers (gynaecologists, general practitioners and midwives), only 104 health professionals responded positively. The questionnaire contained 32 questions and the data were analyzed according to SPSS statistical software. The reached results of this study suggest that that General practitioners have more knowledge about periodontal disease and its relation to pregnancy outcomes, this may be because their knowledge is still fresh in this field since some of them are newly graduates. While midwives showed insufficient awareness about the effectiveness of oral health. Periodontal disease is a risk factor to pregnancy outcomes and serious problem that health care providers should been highlighted? This study suggested the level of awareness among (gynaecologists , midwives and general practitioners) towards periodontal disease and its association with pregnancy complications is deprived. Therefore, the health professionals needs to improve their dental backgro