Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

Effects of Mechanical Methods Used in Peri-implantitis Treatment on Implant Surface Decontamination and Roughness
Published on: March 14, 2025
Association between early preterm birth and periodontitis according to USA and European consensus definitions
B Martinez de Tejada1, A Gayet-Ageron, C Combescure
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals of Geneva and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. begona.martinezdetejada@hcuge.ch
Objective:
Prospective case-control study assessing the association between maternal periodontitis according to the recently issued USA and European consensus definitions and early preterm delivery (<35 weeks gestation). Cases were women delivering between 22 and 34(6/7) weeks of gestation (n = 84) and controls were women delivering at term (≥ 37 weeks) (n = 345).
Methods:
Periodontal examination at the immediate postpartum period identified periodontitis according to both consensus definitions. A multivariate logistic model was used to assess the association between early preterm delivery and the presence of periodontitis adjusted for confounders.
Results:
All women had periodontitis by the European consensus definitions. When using the USA definitions, more cases had severe periodontitis than controls (34.5% vs. 17.72%); p = 0.003. After adjustment for main confounders, the association between severe (OR: 2.38; 95% CI: 1.36-4.14) periodontitis and early preterm delivery persisted. The only other independent factor associated with early preterm delivery was vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.
Conclusions:
Early preterm delivery is associated with periodontitis when the USA consensus definitions are used. The European definitions revealed inadequate for the study population because of the lack of discrimination power.
Related Concept Videos
Development of the Oral Microbiota
The Oral Microbiota
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Development of Human Microbiota