Hormonal Effects on Periodontal Tissues

Optimal Treatment Timing

• Safest Period: Early second trimester (weeks 14-20)
• Rationale: Organogenesis complete, uterine size manageable

Clinical Manifestations

• Most Striking Feature: Pronounced ease of bleeding (pregnancy gingivitis)
• Mechanism: Increased vascular permeability due to hormonal changes

Microbial Changes

• Bacterial Shift: Increased Prevotella intermedia
• Hormonal Influence: Estrogen and progesterone serve as growth factors for certain bacteria

Treatment Phases

1. Phase 1: Non – surgical
2. Phase 2: Surgical
3. Phase 3: Restorative
4. Phase 4: Maintenance Must progress through Phase 1 → 4 before Phase 2 or 3

Merin's Classification

• Class A: 6 months – 1 year recall
• Class B: 3 – 4 months recall
• Class C: 1 – 3 months recall

Iodine Effects

• High dose, short period → Inhibits T4 synthesis (Wolff-Chaikoff effect)
• Low dose, long period → Increases T4 synthesis (Jod-Basedow effect)

Drugs Inhibiting T4→T3 Conversion

Propranolol, Dexamethasone, Propylthiouracil, High-dose iodine, Radiographic contrast

Hypothyroidism

• Best test: Raised TSH (primary hypothyroidism)
• Causes: Amyloidosis, Sarcoidosis, Hemochromatosis, Scleroderma, Cystinosis
• Drugs: Amiodarone, Lithium
• Hashimoto thyroiditis

Cushing's Syndrome

• Earliest feature: Loss of diurnal variation of cortisol
• High-dose dexamethasone suppression test: Differentiates pituitary adenoma vs ectopic ACTH

Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison's Disease)

• Most common cause in India: Tuberculosis
• Most common primary tumor metastasizing to adrenals: Melanoma
• Most confirmatory test: ACTH stimulation test
• Diagnostic: Low plasma cortisol (<3 mg/dL) at 8 AM + elevated ACTH (>200 pg/mL)
• Most common symptom: Asthenia (due to hypotension & hypoglycemia)

• GTR Membrane Placement:
  • Apical border: 3 – 4 mm below defect margin.
  • Lateral extension: 2 – 3 mm beyond defect.
• Root Surface Biomodification: Citric acid (pH 1.0) for 2 – 5 min.
• Enamel Matrix Derivative: Emdogain (from porcine teeth).
• Cervical Enamel Projections: Seen in 8.6 – 28.6% of molars.
• Smoking: Preventable risk factor; damages cilia via hydrogen cyanide.

Epithelium Types

• Parakeratinized: Retains pyknotic nuclei in stratum corneum
• Orthokeratinized: No nuclei in stratum corneum
• Keratinization order: Palate > Gingiva > Tongue > Cheek (most to least)

Keratin Distribution

• K 1, 2, 10, 12: Orthokeratinized areas
• K 6, 16: Highly proliferative areas
• K 5, 14: Stratification specific
• K 19: Parakeratinized areas

Structural Components

• Stratum spinosum: Contains keratinosomes/Odland bodies (modified lysosomes)
• Basal lamina: 300 – 400 Å thick, joins epithelium to connective tissue
  • Lamina lucida (rich in laminin)
  • Lamina densa (rich in collagen type IV)
• Junctional epithelium: 0.25 – 1.35 mm long, formed by oral + reduced enamel epithelium

Clinical Probing

• Normal probing depth: 2 – 3 mm (requires apical penetration)
• Stippling: Orange peel appearance, restricted to attached gingiva
• Loss of stippling: Early sign of gingivitis