Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice
04:18

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

Periodontitis and risk of preterm birth and low birthweight--a meta-analysis

Tomasz Konopka1, Anna Paradowska-Stolarz

  • 1Department of Periodontology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland. tkonopka@stom.am.wroc.pl

Ginekologia Polska
|August 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Periodontitis significantly increases the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight in newborns. Further research is needed to confirm periodontitis as an independent risk factor and integrate dental care into prenatal programs.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Periodontology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Periodontitis and preterm birth share common risk factors, with periodontitis identified as a potential independent risk factor for preterm birth and low birth weight since 1996.
  • Despite numerous global studies, findings on the impact of periodontitis on birth outcomes remain inconsistent.
  • This meta-analysis aims to synthesize existing evidence on periodontitis as a risk factor for preterm birth and low birth weight.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a meta-analysis of case-control, prospective, and cohort studies evaluating the influence of periodontitis on preterm birth and low birth weight.
  • To consolidate and analyze data from studies published between 1996 and 2010.

Main Methods:

  • Searched international and Polish bibliographic databases for relevant studies published from 1996 to 2010.
  • Included case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies, with a total of 12,047 pregnant women.
  • Employed fixed-effects and random-effects models (DerSimonian-Liard method) to calculate overall odds ratios and evaluated study heterogeneity and publication bias.

Main Results:

  • The meta-analysis included 22 studies (15 case-control, 1 cross-sectional, 6 cohort) from 4 continents.
  • Mothers with periodontitis had an overall odds ratio of 2.35 for preterm birth with low birth weight (p < 0.0001).
  • The odds ratio for low birth weight was 1.5 (p = 0.001) and for preterm birth was 2.73 (p < 0.0001), with significant heterogeneity and publication bias observed.

Conclusions:

  • The hypothesis of periodontitis as an independent risk factor for preterm birth and/or low birth weight requires further investigation.
  • Methodologically sound cohort and intervention studies are necessary for definitive conclusions.
  • Integrating dental care into prenatal care programs is crucial for maternal and infant health.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

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,...
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
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...
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...
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...
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...