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Oral inflammatory burden and preterm birth.
Aura Heimonen1, Sok-Ja Janket, Risto Kaaja
1Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. aura.heimonen@helsinki.fi
Journal of Periodontology
|June 3, 2009
Summary
The combined impact of multiple oral infections significantly elevates the risk of preterm birth, highlighting the importance of comprehensive oral health assessment during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Periodontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Previous research linked preterm birth to oral inflammation, primarily focusing on periodontal disease.
- This narrow focus may have underestimated the overall inflammatory burden originating from the oral cavity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between a broader measure of oral inflammatory burden and the incidence of preterm birth.
- To assess the impact of multiple oral infections, not just periodontal disease, on pregnancy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A postpartum cross-sectional study involving 328 Finnish women.
- Clinical oral findings (gingival bleeding, probing depth, calculus, mouth ulcers) were used to create Oral Inflammatory Burden Index (OIBI) and Oral Inflammation Score (OIS).
- Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for confounders including age, smoking, diabetes, parity, and weight gain.
Main Results:
- The Oral Inflammatory Burden Index (OIBI) showed a significant association with preterm birth (OR, 1.85; P = 0.02) after adjusting for confounders.
- The Oral Inflammation Score (OIS) was initially associated with preterm birth (OR, 1.97; P = 0.03) but lost significance when weight gain was included in the model.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a significant association between the combined effects of multiple oral infections and preterm birth.
- Comprehensive assessment of oral health is crucial for understanding pregnancy risks.
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