title: Is maternal periodontal disease a risk factor for preterm delivery?
abstract: Several studies have suggested an association between maternal periodontal disease and preterm delivery, but this has not been a consistent finding. In 2006-2007, the authors examined the relation between maternal periodontal disease and preterm delivery among 467 pregnant Thai women who delivered a preterm singleton infant (<37 weeks' gestation) and 467 controls who delivered a singleton infant at term (> or =37 weeks' gestation). Periodontal examinations were performed within 48 hours after delivery. Participants' periodontal health status was classified into 4 categories according to the extent and severity of periodontal disease. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Preterm delivery cases and controls were similar with regard to mean probing depth, mean clinical attachment loss, and mean percentage of sites exhibiting bleeding on probing. After controlling for known confounders, the authors found that severe clinical periodontal disease was not associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery (odds ratio = 1.20, 95% confidence interval: 0.67, 2.16). In addition, there was no evidence of a linear increase in risk of preterm delivery or its subtypes associated with increasing severity of periodontal disease (P(trend) > 0.05). The results of this case-control study do not provide convincing evidence that periodontal disease is associated with preterm delivery or its subtypes among Thai women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Patumwan, Bangkok, Thailand. vitool@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vitool
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lohsoonthorn
authors.forename: Kajorn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kungsadalpipob
authors.forename: Prohpring
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chanchareonsook
authors.forename: Sompop
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Limpongsanurak
authors.forename: Ornanong
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vanichjakvong
authors.forename: Sanutm
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sutdhibhisal
authors.forename: Nopmanee
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wongkittikraiwan
authors.forename: Chulamanee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sookprome
authors.forename: Wiboon
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kamolpornwijit
authors.forename: Surasak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jantarasaengaram
authors.forename: Saknan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manotaya
authors.forename: Vatcharapong
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Siwawej
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: Annette L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology