[Periodontal status in a sample of Senegalese women using hormonal contraception]

Hormonal contraception is based on the use of synthetic hormones containing variable doses of oestrogen and progesterone making it possible to avoid pregnancy in a temporary and reversible way. The objective of this study is to evaluate the periodontal status of a sample of Senegalese women under hormonal contraceptive. One hundred women using contraception since at least 6 month were paired on the age, the socio-economic profile and oral hygiene with a control group. Oral hygiene (plaque index (PI) of Silness and Löe), the inflammation (gingival index (GI) of Löe and Silness), probing depth and clinical attachment loss were recorded. With equal hygiene, the scores of the gingival index were significantly higher among women under contraceptive (p < 0.001). Inflammation was significantly more marked for the women who used contraception in injectable form compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Probing depth (3.01 +/- 0.04) and clinical attachment loss (3.19 +/- 0.08) were significantly more important among women under contraceptive (p < 0.001). The women under contraceptive seem to set up a group at risk for developing a periodontal disease, it is thus necessary to systematise periodontal appraisal before and during contraceptive use period.