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Peer-reviewedCC BYJournal of clinical medicine

Self-Reported Oral Manifestations and Preventive Dental-Care Practices Among Pregnant Women in Romania: A Cross-Sectional Study

  • Ciprian Laurențiu Pătru1
  • Ilona Mihaela Liliac2,3
  • Dominic Gabriel Iliescu1
  • Anca Mihaela Predescu3,4
  • Gabriela Boldeanu5
  • Larisa Pătru6
  • Mihaela Jana Țuculină7
  • Alexandra Cătălina Iacov5
  • Cristian Niky Cumpătă8
  • Smaranda Cumpătă8
  • Mihaela Ionescu9
  • Marinas Marius Cristian10
2 more authors
  • Carmen Aurelia Mogoantă3,11
  • Elena Cristina Andrei2,3,12
12 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  2. 2Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  3. 3Research Centre for Microscopic Morphology and Immunology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  4. 4Department of Histology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  5. 5Doctoral School, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  6. 6Department 9, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  7. 7Department of Conservative and Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  8. 8Faculty of Dentistry, Titu Maiorescu University, 67A Gheorghe Petrașcu Street, 031593 Bucharest, Romania
  9. 9Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  10. 10Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  11. 11Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
  12. 12Dental Medicine Research Center, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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Abstract

Background: Oral symptoms and preventive dental-care practices during pregnancy remain insufficiently characterized in Romania. This study described self-reported oral manifestations, oral-hygiene practices, and dental attendance and explored their cross-sectional associations with gingival bleeding, dental pain, and perceived oral-health impact. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study included 101 pregnant women recruited at the Ginecho Clinic, Craiova, Romania, between October 2025 and July 2026. Participants completed a 21-item electronic questionnaire in the clinic with clarification available from the medical team. Oral conditions were self-reported/perceived rather than clinically diagnosed. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance; multivariable models simultaneously included preventive behaviors, maternal age, parity, and trimester. Results: Gingival bleeding (68.3%), gingival swelling (66.3%), and salivary-flow alterations (57.4%) were frequently reported. Most participants brushed once daily (66.3%), never used interdental cleaning (68.3%), and had not attended a dental visit during pregnancy (81.2%). In adjusted models, brushing at least twice daily was associated with lower prevalence of gingival bleeding (aPR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32–0.97) and higher perceived oral-health impact (aPR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23–0.99). No preventive behavior was significantly associated with dental pain after simultaneous adjustment. Conclusions: Self-reported oral manifestations were common and preventive practices were limited in this convenience sample. These exploratory associations do not establish temporality or causality and require confirmation in prospective studies using validated instruments and clinical oral examinations.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{patru2026selfreported,
  title = {{Self-Reported Oral Manifestations and Preventive Dental-Care Practices Among Pregnant Women in Romania: A Cross-Sectional Study}},
  author = {Ciprian Laurențiu Pătru and Ilona Mihaela Liliac and Dominic Gabriel Iliescu and Anca Mihaela Predescu and Gabriela Boldeanu and Larisa Pătru and Mihaela Jana Țuculină and Alexandra Cătălina Iacov and Cristian Niky Cumpătă and Smaranda Cumpătă and Mihaela Ionescu and Marinas Marius Cristian and Carmen Aurelia Mogoantă and Elena Cristina Andrei},
  journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/jcm15197615},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13665922},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Self-Reported Oral Manifestations and Preventive Dental-Care Practices Among Pregnant Women in Romania: A Cross-Sectional Study
AU  - Ciprian Laurențiu Pătru
AU  - Ilona Mihaela Liliac
AU  - Dominic Gabriel Iliescu
AU  - Anca Mihaela Predescu
AU  - Gabriela Boldeanu
AU  - Larisa Pătru
AU  - Mihaela Jana Țuculină
AU  - Alexandra Cătălina Iacov
AU  - Cristian Niky Cumpătă
AU  - Smaranda Cumpătă
AU  - Mihaela Ionescu
AU  - Marinas Marius Cristian
AU  - Carmen Aurelia Mogoantă
AU  - Elena Cristina Andrei
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Journal of clinical medicine
DO  - 10.3390/jcm15197615
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13665922
AB  - Background: Oral symptoms and preventive dental-care practices during pregnancy remain insufficiently characterized in Romania. This study described self-reported oral manifestations, oral-hygiene practices, and dental attendance and explored their cross-sectional associations with gingival bleeding, dental pain, and perceived oral-health impact. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study included 101 pregnant women recruited at the Ginecho Clinic, Craiova, Romania, between October 2025 and July 2026. Participants completed a 21-item electronic questionnaire in the clinic with clarification available from the medical team. Oral conditions were self-reported/perceived rather than clinically diagnosed. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance; multivariable models simultaneously included preventive behaviors, maternal age, parity, and trimester. Results: Gingival bleeding (68.3%), gingival swelling (66.3%), and salivary-flow alterations (57.4%) were frequently reported. Most participants brushed once daily (66.3%), never used interdental cleaning (68.3%), and had not attended a dental visit during pregnancy (81.2%). In adjusted models, brushing at least twice daily was associated with lower prevalence of gingival bleeding (aPR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32–0.97) and higher perceived oral-health impact (aPR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23–0.99). No preventive behavior was significantly associated with dental pain after simultaneous adjustment. Conclusions: Self-reported oral manifestations were common and preventive practices were limited in this convenience sample. These exploratory associations do not establish temporality or causality and require confirmation in prospective studies using validated instruments and clinical oral examinations.
SN  - 2077-0383
ER  -