Maternal Periodontal Health

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Periodontology
• Public Health

Background:

• Periodontal disease is common and often exacerbated during pregnancy due to physiological changes.
• Poor maternal oral health is increasingly linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes but is frequently neglected in antenatal care.
• Hormonal, vascular, and immune shifts during pregnancy heighten susceptibility to periodontal issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the global and Indian prevalence of periodontal disease in pregnancy.
• To elucidate the biological mechanisms linking periodontal disease to adverse perinatal outcomes.
• To evaluate current preventive and therapeutic strategies for managing periodontal disease during pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase for studies from 2015 onwards.
• 44 relevant articles were selected from 206 initially screened based on eligibility criteria.
• Included studies covered epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics, maternal-fetal effects, and treatment outcomes, supplemented by earlier foundational research.

Main Results:

• Pregnancy-related gingivitis is highly prevalent globally; periodontitis rates vary, including in India.
• Periodontal inflammation may trigger systemic inflammation, contributing to preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, low birth weight, and fetal growth restriction.
• Non-surgical periodontal therapy in the second trimester appears safe and may offer a modest reduction in preterm birth and low birth weight, though evidence is mixed.

Conclusions:

• Maternal periodontal disease is a significant, modifiable risk factor affecting pregnancy outcomes.
• Integrating oral health assessments and care into antenatal services can enhance maternal and neonatal health.
• Further rigorous clinical trials are necessary to quantify the benefits of periodontal interventions during pregnancy.