title: Prevention of preterm delivery with periodontal treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the role of periodontal treatment (PT) in the prevention of preterm delivery (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative prospective study of two groups of pregnant women with threatening PD was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Szeged: group A (n = 39) comprised patients who were merely examined dentally for periodontitis, and group B (n = 44) consisted of patients who received periodontal treatment during pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Periodontitis was identified in 19 cases (48.7%) in group A and in 18 cases (40.9%) in group B. The mean birth weight of the newborns was significantly higher in group B (3,009.1 g) than in group A (2,580.8 g; p = 0.007). The rate of premature birth was significantly lower in the group who received PT (p = 0.012, odds ratio = 3.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.38-8.86).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PT of pregnant women can decrease the rate of premature birth and consequently lead to a better neonatal health outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. novakta@freemail.hu or novobgyn@invitel.hu
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Novák
authors.forename: Márta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radnai
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gorzó
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Urbán
authors.forename: Hajnalka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orvos
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pál
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003729:Dental Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy