Experimental gingivitis in women using oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptives (OC) have historically been considered a risk factor for gingival diseases. We set out to investigate this premise further, given that, over recent years, hormone concentrations in OC have been substantially reduced. Using a prospective, split-mouth, experimental gingivitis model, pre-menopausal women either taking (n = 14) or not taking (n = 16) OC refrained from all oral hygiene practices in one maxillary (test) quadrant while continuing to perform normal oral hygiene activities in the contralateral (control) quadrant. Mean increases in plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume from days 0 to 21 were significant in test quadrants (P < 0.05) but did not differ regardless of whether subjects received OC (P > 0.05). PI, GI, and GCF volume did not vary in control quadrants over the course of the study (P > 0.05). Analysis of these data suggests that current OC formulations do not affect the inflammatory response of the gingiva to dental plaque.