title: Evidence grade associating periodontitis with preterm birth and/or low birth weight: II: a systematic review of randomized trials evaluating the effects of periodontal treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate whether maternal periodontal disease treatment (MPDT) can reduce the incidence of preterm birth (PB) and/or low birth weight (LBW).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for entries up to October 2010 without restrictions regarding the language of publication. Only randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effect of MPDT on birth term and birth weight were included. The search was conducted by two independent reviewers and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted methodically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen RCTs provided data, but only five trials were considered to be at a low risk of bias. The results of eight studies (61.5%) showed that MPDT may reduce the incidence of PB and/or LBW. However, the results of all meta-analyses showed contrasting results for PB [RR: 0.88 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.09)], LBW [RR: 0.78 (95% CI: 0.53, 1.17)] and PB/LBW [RR: 0.52 (95% CI: 0.08, 3.31)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this review show that MPDT did not decrease the risk of PB and/or LBW; however, the influence of specific aspects that were not investigated (disease diagnosis, extension and severity and the success of MPDT) should be evaluated by future RCTs.
authors: Department of Stomatology, Division of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. chambrone@usp.br
authors: Leandro
authors: L
authors: Chambrone
authors: Cláudio Mendes
authors: CM
authors: Pannuti
authors: Mariana Rocha
authors: MR
authors: Guglielmetti
authors: Luiz Armando
authors: LA
authors: Chambrone
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015982:Bias; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D012534:Dental Scaling; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D057747:Periodontal Debridement; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents