A possible association between preterm birth and early periodontitis. A pilot study

According to many studies, generalised periodontitis can be a risk factor for preterm birth (PB). A case-control study was carried out to examine if early localised periodontitis could be a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome.

Postpartum women without any systemic disease were included into the study. Similar numbers of patients belonged to the case (41) and to the control (44) groups. A PB case was defined if a patient had a threatening premature labour during pregnancy, preterm premature rupture of membranes, or spontaneous preterm labour, and/or the weight of the newborn was < or = 2499 g. Control women had delivery after the 37th gestational week and the newborn's weight was > or = 2500 g. Known risk factors like smoking, alcohol, drug consumption, socio-economic status and the periodontal status were recorded.

A significant association was found between PB and early localised periodontitis of the patient with the following criterion having bleeding at > or = 50% of the examined sites (6 at each tooth) and having at least at one site > or = 4 mm probing depth (p = 0.001). The odds ratio was 5.46 at the 95% confidence interval. The average weight of the newborns in the periodontitis group was less than in the control group, the difference is significant (p = 0.047).

The results indicate that early localised periodontitis of the patient during pregnancy can be regarded as an important risk factor for PB.