Examining the safety of dental treatment in pregnant women.
BACKGROUND
Although clinicians generally consider it safe to provide dental care for pregnant women, supporting clinical trial evidence is lacking. This study compares safety outcomes from a trial in which pregnant women received scaling and root planing and other dental treatments.


METHODS
The authors randomly assigned 823 women with periodontitis to receive scaling and root planing, either at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation or up to three months after delivery. They evaluated all subjects for essential dental treatment (EDT) needs, defined as the presence of moderate-to-severe caries or fractured or abscessed teeth; 351 women received complete EDT at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation. The authors used Fisher exact test and a propensity-score adjustment to compare rates of serious adverse events, spontaneous abortions/stillbirths, fetal/congenital anomalies and preterm deliveries (<37 weeks' gestation) between groups, according to the provision of periodontal treatment and EDT.


RESULTS
Rates of adverse outcomes did not differ significantly (P> .05) between women who received EDT and those who did not require this treatment, or between groups that received both EDT and periodontal treatment, either EDT or periodontal treatment alone, or no treatment. Use of topical or local anesthetics during root planing also was not associated with an increased risk of experiencing adverse outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
EDT in pregnant women at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation was not associated with an increased risk of experiencing serious medical adverse events or adverse pregnancy outcomes. Data from larger studies and from groups with other treatment needs are needed to confirm the safety of dental care in pregnant women.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence that EDT and use of topical and local anesthetics are safe in pregnant women at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation.
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, 17-116 Moos Tower, 515 Delaware St. S.E., Minneapolis, Minn. 55455, USA. micha002@umn.edu
Bryan S
BS
Michalowicz
Anthony J
AJ
DiAngelis
M John
MJ
Novak
William
W
Buchanan
Panos N
PN
Papapanou
Dennis A
DA
Mitchell
Alice E
AE
Curran
Virginia R
VR
Lupo
James E
JE
Ferguson
James
J
Bofill
Stephen
S
Matseoane
Amos S
AS
Deinard
Tyson B
TB
Rogers
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D000038:Abscess / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D012534:Dental Scaling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology; D016745:Root Planing; D012449:Safety; D050497:Stillbirth; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000628:therapy
D000779:Anesthetics, Local