title: Association between periodontitis, periodontopathogens and preterm birth: is it real?
abstract: To identify the association between periodontitis and periodontal pathogens with preterm birth despite the strict control of some important confounders, such as infectious processes and criteria for diagnosis of periodontitis during pregnancy.
  
  
  
  In this cross-sectional study were included 70 healthy puerperal women between 20 and 35 years without a history of genitourinary infections during pregnancy. Based on the gestational age they were divided into two groups: 45 with term birth (>37 weeks) and 25 with preterm birth (<37 weeks). Previous informed consent, a gynecologic and dental history that included gynecologic and obstetric background, periodontal status applying different authors' criteria of periodontitis diagnosis, presence of periodontopathogens, dental caries and oral hygiene were recorded.
  
  
  
  There was no association between periodontitis, periodontopathogens and preterm birth. There were no statistical differences applying different authors' criteria diagnosis of periodontitis. Gingivitis status was similar, but probing depth was greater in preterm birth subjects, perhaps they are young women, and this finding could be an early sign of periodontitis. In like manner, the main periodontal bacterial species are not associated with preterm birth, general hygiene and care habits are poorer than term birth subjects.
  
  
  
  We could suggest that preterm birth is a multifactorial condition and the role of periodontitis and the periodontopathogens itself is not sufficient to trigger the preterm birth. There are factors such as infectious processes and diagnostic criteria for periodontitis that could be responsible for controversial results.
authors.affiliation: Advanced General Dentistry Program, San Luis Potosi University, Dr. Manuel Nava no. 2, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico. ritae_martinez@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rita Elizabeth
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Advanced General Dentistry Program, San Luis Potosi University, Dr. Manuel Nava no. 2, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Diana Francisca
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Moreno-Castillo
authors.affiliation: Advanced General Dentistry Program, San Luis Potosi University, Dr. Manuel Nava no. 2, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loyola-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Advanced General Dentistry Program, San Luis Potosi University, Dr. Manuel Nava no. 2, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ana Gabriela
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Medrano
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Central Hospital Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto, Faculty of Medicine, San Luis Potosi University, Av. Venustiano Carranza #2395, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jesús Héctor San
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Miguel-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Advanced General Dentistry Program, San Luis Potosi University, Dr. Manuel Nava no. 2, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: José Honorio
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Olvera-Delgado
authors.affiliation: Advanced General Dentistry Program, San Luis Potosi University, Dr. Manuel Nava no. 2, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rubén Abraham
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Pérez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047929:Term Birth; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dental caries; Oral hygiene; Periodontitis; Periodontopathogens; Preterm birth