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Could Poor Periodontal Status be a Warning Sign for Worse Pregnancy Outcome?
Insights
Maternal periodontal inflammation, indicated by high bleeding on probing (BOP), is linked to preterm birth (PB) and low birth weight (LBW). Maintaining good oral health during pregnancy is crucial for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Periodontology
- Neonatal Health
Background:
- Preterm birth (PB) and low birth weight (LBW) are significant global health concerns contributing to neonatal morbidity and mortality.
- Existing research presents conflicting findings regarding the association between maternal periodontal status and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- Poor periodontal status, characterized by probing depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP), requires further investigation in relation to pregnancy complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the role of diagnostic signs of poor periodontal status, specifically probing depth (PD) ≥4 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) ≥50%, in preterm birth (PB).
- To investigate the effect of these periodontal indicators, individually and combined, on birth weight (BW).
- To clarify the relationship between maternal periodontal health and adverse pregnancy outcomes like PB and LBW.
Main Methods:
- A study analyzing 77 preterm births (PBs) and 165 term deliveries from 242 patients.
- Perinatal factors including gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) were assessed.
- Maternal periodontal status was categorized by bleeding on probing (BOP) as high (≥50%) versus non-high (<50%) and probing depth (PD) as ≥4 mm versus <4 mm, analyzed separately and in combination.
Main Results:
- Maternal periodontal inflammation, particularly high BOP, was associated with an increased risk of PB and LBW.
- Women with high BOP had an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 2.28 for LBW.
- High BOP was also associated with a 2.02-fold higher rate of PB.
Conclusions:
- An increasing tendency of BOP appears to be associated with a higher likelihood of PB and LBW.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the relationship between periodontal health and pregnancy outcomes.
- Maintaining good oral health is unequivocally important, especially during pregnancy, to support positive maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
Purpose:
The aim of the present study was to analyse the role of the main diagnostic signs of poor periodontal status, probing depth (PD) ≥4 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) ≥50%, both simultaneously and individually in preterm birth (PB) and their effect on the birth weight (BW). Prematurity is a major health concern and it is the leading contributing factor to neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Conflicting results exist on the relation between poor maternal, periodontal status and adverse pregnancy outcome, including preterm deliveries and low birth weight (LBW).
Materials And Methods:
Seventy-seven PBs and 165 deliveries at term were analysed out of 242 patients. The perinatal factors such as gestational age (GA) and BW were analysed by BOP, categorised as ≥50% (high BOP) vs <50% (non-high BOP) and PD ≥4 mm vs <4 mm, in combination or separately.
Results:
The obtained results suggest that maternal periodontal inflammation, represented particularly by BOP, might be a triggering factor and can be associated with PB and LBW. For women with high BOP the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for LBW was 2.28-fold and they were likely to have PB, with a 2.02-fold higher rate.
Conclusion:
An increasing tendency of BOP seemed to be associated with a tendency to PB and LBW. Further investigations are necessary to underline this relationship, but the role of good oral health status in general, and particularly in case of pregnancy, is unequivocal.
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