Association between parity and radiographic periodontal bone loss in women with periodontitis: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Pregnancy-related hormonal and inflammatory changes may affect periodontal tissues; however, the association between parity and accumulated periodontal bone loss remains unclear. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the association between parity and radiographic periodontal bone loss in women with periodontitis and no history of previous active periodontal treatment. Methods This cross-sectional study included 100 systemically healthy, non-smoking women with periodontitis and no history of previous active periodontal treatment. Clinical and radiographic data obtained before the initiation of active periodontal therapy were analyzed. Participants were divided equally into two groups according to parity: 0–4 births and ≥ 5 births. The interdental bone loss-to-root length ratio (IBL/RL) and interdental bone loss-to-root length-to-age ratio (IBL/RL/A) were calculated from digital panoramic radiographs. Between-group differences were evaluated using the Mann–Whitney U test. Spearman’s correlation, Pearson’s chi-square test, and multiple linear regression analyses were also performed. Results No statistically significant differences were found between the parity groups in IBL/RL (U = 1336.50; p = 0.551) or IBL/RL/A (U = 1141.50; p = 0.454). Parity was not significantly correlated with IBL/RL (rₛ=0.028; p = 0.783) or IBL/RL/A (rₛ=−0.103; p = 0.305). Age was weakly and positively correlated with IBL/RL (rₛ=0.252; p = 0.011). The regression model was statistically significant [F(2,97) = 3.338; p = 0.040] and explained 6.4% of the variance in IBL/RL. After adjustment for parity, age remained independently associated with IBL/RL (B = 0.004; β = 0.259; p = 0.011), whereas parity was not independently associated with IBL/RL (B = − 0.003; β=−0.053; p = 0.598). No significant association was found between parity group and periodontitis grade [χ² [1] = 0.161; p = 0.688]. Conclusion Parity was not associated with radiographic periodontal bone loss or periodontitis stage, and grade in systemically healthy, non-smoking women with periodontitis and no history of previous active periodontal treatment. In contrast, age was independently associated with greater relative interdental bone loss. These findings suggest that accumulated periodontal destruction may be more closely related to age than to parity.