A case-control study to investigate an association between adverse pregnancy outcome and periodontal disease.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this case-control study was to ascertain if women who experienced a preterm (or premature) birth had any differences in periodontal disease severity compared with women who delivered at term.


METHODS
Subjects were recruited postpartum. Case subjects delivered a baby before 37 weeks of gestation whereas control subjects gave birth at or around term. A questionnaire was administered by a Research Midwife, designed to collect demographic information, pregnancy outcome variables and information on other factors which may influence health in pregnancy. A periodontal examination was then performed at the bedside.


RESULTS
Demographic variables were similar between case and control subjects. There was a higher proportion of case subjects who reported smoking. There were no differences in oral hygiene, bleeding on probing or loss of attachment; however, control subjects had a higher proportion of periodontal pockets probing 5 mm or greater.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no association between the severity of periodontal disease and pregnancy outcome in this population.
Moore
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Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry; Guy's, King's, and St Thomas' Dental Institute, King's College, London, UK. suzanne.farrell@stt.sthames.nhs.uk
Randhawa
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Ide
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D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D012923:Social Class; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires