Pilot study for periodontal treatment and pregnancy outcome: a clinical prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
Maternal periodontitis has been suggested as an important risk factor for preterm low birth weight. The aim of the present observational study was to assess whether full-mouth therapy of periodontitis in pregnant women reduces the risk of preterm low birth weight.


METHODS
From April 2006 to April 2007, 302 pregnant women who were at less than 22 weeks of gestation were invited to attend a periodontal examination. Consent for periodontal screening was given by 62 mothers; 54 of them met criteria. Consent for periodontal treatment was provided by 12 patients (group 1), whereas 14 patients declined therapy (group 2). No periodontal therapy was indicated in 28 patients (group 3). Nonsurgical treatment was performed in group 1 as full-mouth disinfection between 22 and 30 weeks of gestation. Periodontal reevaluation was performed 4 to 6 weeks later. As primary outcome, the gestational age at the end of pregnancy was assessed in all groups. Secondary outcomes were birth weight and growth restriction.


RESULTS
Periodontitis treatment improved periodontal measures (P <or= .001) in this rather small collective. However, there were no statistically significant differences between treatment group 1 and group 2 in the gestational age, birth weight, or growth restrictions. There were also no statistically significant differences compared to group 3.


CONCLUSIONS
In consideration to the limited number of patients, full-mouth therapy in pregnant women can improve periodontitis but does not significantly alter the gestational age at birth or birth weight. Therefore, new studies are needed in this field especially with respect to the genetic disposition of mothers to chronic or aggressive periodontal inflammation response.
Deppe
Herbert
H
Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Hohlweg-Majert
Bettina
B
Hölzle
Frank
F
Schneider
Karl Theodor Mario
KT
Wagenpfeil
Stefan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001724:Birth Weight; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000628:therapy; D012534:Dental Scaling; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000628:therapy; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000628:therapy; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016745:Root Planing; D055815:Young Adult
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009067:Mouthwashes; D002710:Chlorhexidine