The Relationship between Periodontitis and Preterm Low Birthweight

• Published in: Journal of dental research Vol. 87; no. 1; pp. 73 - 78
• Main Authors: Vettore, M.V., Leal, M. doC, Leão, A.T., da Silva, A.M. Monteiro, Lamarca, G.A., Sheiham, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SAGE Publications 01.01.2008; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Birth Weight; Dental Plaque Index; Dentistry; Female; Gestational Age; Gingival Hemorrhage - complications; Humans; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Periodontal Attachment Loss - complications; Periodontal Index; Periodontal Pocket - complications; Periodontitis - complications; Pilot Projects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Premature Birth - etiology; Risk Factors; Smoking; preterm; risk factors; case-control; low birthweight; periodontal disease
• ISSN: 0022-0345; 1544-0591
• DOI: 10.1177/154405910808700113

There is no consensus about the influence of periodontal disease on preterm low birthweight. The objective was to investigate the relationship between periodontal disease and preterm low birthweight. A case-control study with 542 post partum women aged over 30 yrs was conducted. Three groups of cases were compared with non-preterm and non-low-birthweight control individuals (n = 393): low birthweight (n = 96), preterm (n = 110), and preterm and low birthweight (n = 63). Periodontal clinical parameters and covariates were recorded. Periodontal disease levels were higher in control individuals than in cases. The extent of periodontal disease did not increase risk of preterm low birthweight according to 15 measures of periodontal disease. Mean periodontal pocket depth and frequency of periodontal sites with clinical attachment level ≥ 3 mm in preterm low birthweight cases were lower than in control individuals. Periodontal disease was not more severe in women with preterm low birthweight babies.