Prevalence of Gingivitis among the Patients Visiting Dental OPD of Bhitai Dental & Medical College Mirpurkhas

Objective: To determine the prevalence rate of gingivitis among the patients visiting Dental OPD of Bhittai Dental & Medical College Mirpurkhas. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the dental OPD of Bhittai Dental & Medical College, Mirpurkhas, over six months, from July 2023 to December 2023. All individuals aged over 12 years, of both genders, attending the dental OPD for routine check-ups, dental complaints, or periodontal assessments were included. Each patient underwent a periodontal assessment by a qualified dental professional. The diagnosis of gingivitis was made using standard clinical criteria, including gum redness, swelling, and bleeding on probing. Patients were assessed for gingivitis and its severity using the Gingival Index (GI) to quantify severity. A structured questionnaire was used to record demographic details, oral hygiene practices, and frequency of gingivitis, and the data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: Mean age of the patients was 28.3 years, with slightly more female (52.2%) than male (47.8%), and the majority were married (69.6%). Gingival bleeding was found in 39.1% of the participants, indicating the presence of inflammation, while 60.9% showed no bleeding. There was an insignificant link between gender and gingival bleeding (p=>0.05), while medication use and poor oral hygiene was significantly associated, with those not on medication experiencing more bleeding (<0.05). Tobacco use did not significantly affect bleeding rates (p=>0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of gingivitis among patients visiting the OPD reveal that gingival bleeding is a common clinical sign, affecting approximately 39.1% of participants