title: Effect of periodontal disease treatment during pregnancy on preterm birth incidence: a metaanalysis of randomized trials.
abstract: We conducted a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials to determine whether periodontal disease treatment with scaling and/or root planing during pregnancy may reduce preterm birth (PTB) or low birthweight (LBW) infant incidence. Treatment resulted in significantly lower PTB (odds ratio [OR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.86; P = .008) and borderline significantly lower LBW (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.23-1.00; P = .049), whereas no difference was found for spontaneous abortion/stillbirth (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.41-1.31; P = .292). Subgroup analysis suggested significant effect of treatment in the absence of history of PTB or LBW (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.29-0.77; P = .003) and less severe periodontal disease as defined by probing depth (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28-0.87; P = .014) or bleeding on probing site (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.95; P = .04). If ongoing large and well-designed randomized trials support our results, we might need to reassess current practice or at least be cautious prior to rejecting treatment of periodontal disease with scaling and/or root planing during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PanHellenic Association for Continual Medical Research, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Polyzos
authors.forename: Ilias P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Polyzos
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mauri
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzioras
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsappi
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cortinovis
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casazza
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic