title: Effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy during gestation period on adverse pregnancy outcome: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To confirm effectiveness of nonsurgical periodontal treatment during pregnancy on pregnancy outcome in terms of preterm birth and low birth weight (LBW).
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for Randomized controlled trials in MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE. from January 2000 to October 2012. References of included studies were hand searched. Studies which measured incidence of either preterm labor (PTL), LBW or both were included. Information on study design, population, risk of bias, periodontal parameters, time and type of periodontal treatment given and pregnancy outcome were abstracted independently by three reviewers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total thirteen studies were included. Five studies had low risk of bias. Conclusive results could not be obtained for incidence of PTL or LBW because of heterogeneity in results due to various reasons, but all studies which assessed PTL and LBW combined showed significant difference in incidence of same in group which received non surgical periodontal treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that treatment of periodontitis during gestation improves pregnancy outcome in terms of PTLBW, a fact which may be used for health and economical benefits but better RCTs with adequate sample size are required for conclusive evidence.
authors.affiliation: K.M. Shah Dental College and Hospital, Periodontics, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, At & Po Piparia, Ta Waghodia , Vadodara , India and.
authors.forename: Monali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Arti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muley
authors.forename: Prasad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muley
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors