Related Experiment Videos

Contribution of periodontal disease in pregnant women as a risk factor for low birth weight

Simone S Cruz1, Maria da Conceição N Costa, Isaac S Gomes-Filho

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Vale do São Francisco Federal University, Pernambuco, Brazil. simone.seixas1@gmail.com

Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
|August 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Periodontal disease during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight, especially in mothers with lower education. This study investigated the association between this oral infection and adverse birth outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Periodontology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The link between maternal periodontitis and adverse birth outcomes like low birth weight remains under investigation.
  • Previous studies suggest a potential association, but further research is needed to establish this relationship definitively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between periodontal disease in pregnant women and the incidence of low birth weight.
  • To evaluate if oral infections during gestation contribute to gestational events such as low birth weight.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted with 548 mothers, comparing 164 mothers of low-weight births (cases) to 384 mothers of normal-weight births (controls).
  • Periodontal disease was defined by specific clinical criteria including probing depth, clinical attachment loss, and bleeding on probing.
  • Data on maternal characteristics and lifestyle factors were collected through interviews and birth records.

Main Results:

  • Periodontal disease was diagnosed in 42.7% of mothers in the case group versus 30% in the control group.
  • A statistically significant association was observed between periodontal disease and low birth weight (OR=1.74).
  • This association was more pronounced in mothers with lower educational attainment (adjusted OR=2.30).

Conclusions:

  • The study findings indicate a significant association between periodontal disease and low birth weight.
  • Maternal periodontal disease appears to be a contributing factor to low birth weight, particularly among mothers with limited education.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...