Relationship between dental plaque formation and salivary cortisol level in pregnant women

Understanding how increased level of salivary cortisol contributes to the development of dental biofilm during pregnancy can help inthe prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between salivary cortisol level and dental biofilm formation in pregnant women. This descriptive-analytic study was conducted in Hamadan, Iran in 2011. Forty consecutive pregnant women with no history of abortion, stillbirth, or any known physical or psychological disorders at weeks 25 and 33 of gestation were included. Salivary samples were collected for measurement of cortisol levels by Enzyme Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The amount and extension of dental biofilms were determined by using a disclosing agent. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS version 16. The mean levels of salivary cortisol at weeks 25 and 33 of gestation were respectively, 2.45 ± 1.56 μg/dl and 5.24 ± 4.07 μg/dl which demonstrates a significant difference (P