A prospective study to investigate the relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcome

Association between birth-related factors and periodontitis in women: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2018

AIM

Adult women experience several changes in physiological status, such as pregnancy and childbirth, during their life cycle. This study analyses the association between birth-related factors (the number of childbirths, abortions and miscarriages) and periodontitis using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which represents Korean adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study used data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI and VII (2013-2018) and included 10,072 women 19 years or older, with no missing data on the variables assessed. Periodontitis was defined according to the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) criteria. Multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age, household income, education, alcohol consumption, smoking, stress, body mass index, waist circumference, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, an oral examination within 1 year, daily tooth brushing frequency, hygiene products and self-perceived oral health as identified via logistic regression analyses, was performed to determine the association between birth-related variables and periodontitis.

RESULTS

In the crude model, the odds ratio (OR) showed a significantly increased risk of periodontitis (CPI ≥ 3) and severe periodontitis (CPI = 4) based on the number of childbirths, abortions and miscarriages (p < .05). After covariate adjustment, periodontitis (CPI ≥ 3) was associated with the number of childbirths (1: OR = 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47-2.50; 2: OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.57-2.61; ≥3: OR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.60-2.78). Furthermore, severe periodontitis (CPI = 4) was also associated with the number of childbirths (1: OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.24-4.38; 2: OR = 2.99; 95% CI: 1.62-5.52; ≥3: OR = 3.34; 95% CI: 1.79-6.21).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this large-scale, nationally representative study suggest that the number of childbirths is associated with the severity of periodontitis. However, the relationship between the number of abortions and miscarriages and periodontitis (CPI ≥ 3) or severe periodontitis (CPI = 4) is not significant.

Preconception Periodontitis and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion in a Prospective Cohort Study

Few studies have evaluated the association between periodontitis and spontaneous abortion (SAB), and all had limitations. We used data from the Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a prospective preconception cohort study of 3,444 pregnancy planners in the United States and Canada (2019-2022), to address this question. Participants provided self-reported data on periodontitis diagnosis, treatment, and symptoms of severity (i.e., loose teeth) via the enrollment questionnaire. SAB (pregnancy loss at <20 weeks' gestation) was assessed via bimonthly follow-up questionnaires. Participants contributed person-time from the date of a positive pregnancy test to the gestational week of SAB, loss to follow-up, or 20 weeks' gestation, whichever came first. We fitted Cox regression models with weeks of gestation as the time scale to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and we used inverse probability of treatment weighting to account for differential loss to follow-up. We used probabilistic quantitative bias analysis to estimate the magnitude and direction of the effect of exposure misclassification bias on results. In weighted multivariable models, we saw no appreciable association between preconception periodontitis diagnosis (HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.76, 1.23) or treatment (HR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.79, 1.27) and SAB. A history of loose teeth was positively associated with SAB (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 0.88, 2.14). Quantitative bias analysis indicated that our findings were biased towards the null but with considerable uncertainty in the bias-adjusted results.

Factors associated with oral health care behaviors of pregnant women in a northeastern province in Thailand: A hospital-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Oral healthcare behavior leads to oral health status. Factors associated with oral healthcare behavior might affect oral hygiene in pregnant women, who are at high risk for gingivitis and dental caries. This study aimed to explore factors associated with oral healthcare behaviors during pregnancy among pregnant women in a northeastern province of Thailand.

METHOD

A total of 405 pregnant women who attended antenatal care clinics at one of the government hospitals in the province were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Dentists in the hospitals measured pregnant women's gingivitis and dental calculus status using mouth mirrors and explorers. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain variables of interest. Linear regression analysis, Beta and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied.

RESULTS

The majority were 20-24 years old (33.6%). Most of the participants had received upper secondary education (37.6%). Majority had gingivitis (88.1%) and dental calculus (88.6%). The findings revealed that age (Beta = -0.129, 95%CI = -0.269, -0.016), educational level (Beta = 0.118, 95% CI = 0.110, 0.183), and oral health literacy (Beta = 0.283, 95% CI = 0.156, 0.319) were statistically significant factors associated with oral healthcare behaviors.

CONCLUSION

Younger pregnant women had better oral healthcare behaviors than older pregnant women and pregnant women had better oral healthcare behaviors due to higher educational levels and oral health literacy. Oral health promotion should be improved through oral health literacy, and interventions should be added to improve oral care skills particularly in older pregnant women as they are at a greater risk for poor oral healthcare behaviors.

Periodontal Pathogens and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Narrative Review

Periodontal disease is a multi-microbial infection of the teeth-supporting apparatus that manifests as clinical attachment loss and alveolar bone loss. The association between periodontal disease and systemic diseases has been proposed in the literature owing to the former's chronic state of inflammation, and adverse pregnancy outcomes are no exception. As a result of periodontal pathogen invasion, a series of systemic inflammatory and immunologic events affecting the safety of the fetoplacental unit may unfold. This may be further exaggerated by physiologic hormonal and metabolic fluctuations during pregnancy. This can not only negatively affect the gestation period and consequently cause preterm low weight but also complicate the pregnancy via preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. This narrative review article aims to provide a summary of relevant available evidence pertinent to the relationship between periodontal diseases, associated periodontal pathogens and virulence mechanisms mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, this article highlights some of the literature addressing the impact of periodontal therapy interventions and pregnancy outcomes.

Periodontitis in Pregnant Women: A Possible Link to Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis develops in 11% of pregnant women, and it is independently linked to severe complications during pregnancy such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and gestational diabetes.

METHODS

A literature search (Pubmed/MEDLINE, and Scopus) from 2003 to 2023 was conducted to analyze studies focused on periodontitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

16 articles have been included. Most of the studies showed adverse outcomes, like preterm birth and the low weight of the unborn child, are among the most frequent consequences (respectively 62.5% and 68.7% of articles); pre-eclampsia is also linked to this condition (12.5% of articles); and perinatal mortality (12.5% of articles).

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontal disease appears to be associated with adverse events in pregnancy due to the transport of biofilm bacteria into the bloodstream and into placental tissue; what would cause adverse events is the body's immune response to infection.

Microbiome Changes in Pregnancy Disorders

The human microbiota comprises all microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, found within a specific environment that live on our bodies and inside us. The last few years have witnessed an explosion of information related to the role of microbiota changes in health and disease. Even though the gut microbiota is considered the most important in maintaining our health, other regions of the human body, such as the oral cavity, lungs, vagina, and skin, possess their own microbiota. Recent work suggests a correlation between the microbiota present during pregnancy and pregnancy complications. The aim of our literature review was to provide a broad overview of this growing and important topic. We focused on the most significant changes in the microbiota in the four more common obstetric diseases affecting women's health. Thus, our attention will be focused on hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, and recurrent miscarriage. Pregnancy is a unique period in a woman's life since the body undergoes different adaptations to provide an optimal environment for fetal growth. Such changes also involve all the microorganisms, which vary in composition and quantity during the three trimesters of gestation. In addition, special attention will be devoted to the potential and fundamental advances in developing clinical applications to prevent and treat those disorders by modulating the microbiota to develop personalized therapies for disease prevention and tailored treatments.

Prenatal oral health guidelines: a theory- and practice-informed approach to survey development using a modified-Delphi technique and cognitive interviews

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy presents an opportune time for oral health promotion and intervention; however, implementation of the prenatal oral health guidelines remains a challenge among prenatal and oral health providers. The purpose of this study was twofold: To employ a theory-based approach to identify high-priority Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) constructs with the greatest potential to impact prenatal oral health guideline implementation, and to operationalize and pre-test survey items based on the prioritized CFIR constructs. Identifying barriers and facilitators to guideline implementation will inform the development of targeted interventions that address gaps in adherence which can positively impact oral-systemic health.

METHODS

The online survey development process employed three rounds of a modified-Delphi technique with prenatal (i.e., MD/DO, CNM) and oral health (i.e., DMD) Practice Advisory Board Members, cognitive interviews with prenatal and oral health providers, and deliberations among the research team and a Scientific Advisory Board (OBGYN, pediatric dentist, and researchers). High-impact CFIR constructs were identified and translated into survey items that were subsequently piloted and finalized.

RESULTS

During three modified-Delphi rounds, a total of 39 CFIR constructs were evaluated with final input and deliberations with the Practice Advisory Board, Scientific Advisory Board, and the research team achieving consensus on 19 constructs. The instrument was pre-tested with four prenatal and two oral health providers. Overall, participants reported that the survey items were feasible to respond to, took an appropriate length of time to complete, and were well-organized. Participants identified specific areas of improvement to clarify CFIR items. The final survey instrument included 21 CFIR items across four domains, with five constructs included from the intervention characteristics domain, two from the process domain, two from the outer setting domain, and 12 from the inner setting domain.

CONCLUSIONS

Lessons learned from the survey development process include the importance of soliciting diverse scientific and practice-based input, distinguishing between importance/impact and direction of impact (barrier/facilitator), and the need for additional qualitative methods during interdisciplinary collaborations. Overall, this study illustrated an iterative approach to identifying high-priority CFIR constructs that may influence the implementation of the prenatal oral health guidelines into practice settings.

Relationship between Periodontal Condition of the Pregnant Woman with Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight

The aim of this study was to determine the association between the mother’s periodontal condition and perinatal complications, such as preterm birth (PTB) and/or low birth weight (LBW), in a cohort of women in Valencia, Spain. Other related factors, such as tobacco, were also analysed. A prospective cohort study was carried out in a sample of 102 women with a single foetus and ages ranging between 18 and 42 years. Sociodemographic and obstetric variables, caries status, percentage of bleeding, clinical attachment loss (CAL), and probing pocket depth (PPD) data have been collected and analysed. The mean age was 32.4 years, and the BMI was normal. The average weight of new-borns (NB) was 3034 g. A total of 9.8% of the women smoked during their pregnancy. Bleeding percentage was 16.43% (SD 14.81%) and PPDs > 3 mm 8.8 (SD 11.08). The mean of CAL > 0 mm was 1.14 (SD 2.83). The frequency of PTB and LBW was 26%. No statistically significant differences were found between probing depth > 3 mm or CAL > 1 mm, with PTB and/or LBW. Periodontal disease in the mother was not statistically significantly related to either PTB or LBW. Tobacco use during pregnancy showed a statistical significance linked to LBW, but not with PTB.

Periodontal Disease and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between maternal periodontal disease (PD) and three main adverse neonatal outcomes, namely, preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA).

Methods

The Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched up to 6 December 2020 for relevant observational studies on an association between PD and risk of PTB, LBW, and SGA. Eligibility criteria included observational studies which compared the prevalence of PTB and/or LBW and/or SGA between PD women and periodontal health controls. The exclusion criteria included incomplete data, animal research, and mixing up various pregnancy outcomes, such as "preterm low birth weight" and languages other than Chinese and English. Data were extracted and analyzed independently by two authors. The meta-analysis was performed using Stata Statistical Software, Release 12 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA). Odds ratio (OR), confidence intervals (CIs), and heterogeneity (I 2) were computed.

Results

Fourteen case-control studies and 10 prospective cohort studies, involving 15,278 participants, were identified. Based on fixed effect meta-analysis, PTB showed a significant association with PD (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.39-1.77, P < 0.00001) and LBW also showed a significant association with PD (OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.75-3.37, P < 0.00001) in a random effect meta-analysis. However, a random effect meta-analysis showed no relationship between PD and SGA (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 0.86-3.07, P = 0.136).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that pregnant women with PD have a significantly higher risk of PTB and LBW. However, large prospective, blinded cohort studies with standardized diagnostic criteria of PD and adequate control of confounding factors are still required to confirm the relationship between PD and adverse neonatal outcomes.

Association between maternal periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes: an analysis of claims data

BACKGROUND

While a number of studies have explored the link between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes, both epidemiological studies and intervention trials have reached contradictory results with relatively small sample sizes. Utilizing large-scale claims data, we aim to investigate the association between maternal periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

Utilizing large-scale claims data, we aim to investigate the association between maternal periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

Using de-identified claims data from a national commercial insurer in the USA, records of all observed pregnancies from 2015 to 2019 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Adverse pregnancy outcomes, including low birthweight (LBW) of the newborn, preterm birth (PTB) and spontaneous abortion, were primary outcomes. To evaluate the association between periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes, logistic mixed-effect model was estimated with periodontal disease status, age, existing clinical conditions of mothers and geographic location as covariates.

RESULTS

Out of 748 792 observed pregnancy records, 18.66% resulted in adverse pregnancy outcomes; 5.92% in LBW, 14.46% in PTB and 2.22 % in spontaneous abortion. Adjusting for individual-level risk factors, periodontal disease was significantly associated with maternal complications with odds ratios of 1.19 (95% CI:1.15, 1.24) for any adverse pregnancy outcomes, 1.10 (95% CI:1.03, 1.17) for LBW, 1.15 (95% CI:1.10, 1.19) for PTB and 1.34 (95% CI:1.23, 1.46) for spontaneous abortions.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal periodontal disease may be associated with an increased risk of maternal complications and neonatal morbidity. A timely diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease during pregnancy should be encouraged by considering oral health as part of routine prenatal care.

IL-17, A Possible Salivary Biomarker for Preterm Birth in Females with Periodontitis

Background

Previous studies have suggested that chronic periodontal infection may be associate with preterm births and low birth weight. The present study was conducted to evaluate the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in saliva samples of pregnant females as a possible marker in determining whether or not an association exists between chronic periodontitis and preterm labor.

Aim

The aim of the study is to assess the relation between the periodontal health status and preterm low birth weight of the new born on the basis of salivary IL-17 levels.

Materials and Methods

This case-control study included a random sample of 40 female patients, aged 18 to 35 years, who were in their second trimester, assigned to two groups, Group 1 consisted of 20 pregnant females without periodontitis, Group 2 included 20 pregnant females with periodontitis. Saliva samples were obtained in the second trimester and postpartum. Saliva samples were measured by using ELISA for IL-17 levels.

Results

IL-17 levels in saliva were significantly higher in Group 2 than that of Group 1(p < 0.001). There was no significant difference found between the preterm and low birth weight cases and periodontitis.

Conclusion

This study did not find any association between the periodontitis and preterm deliveries and low birth weight cases on the basis of IL-17 levels in saliva.

Self-reported periodontitis and fecundability in a population of pregnancy planners

STUDY QUESTION

Is a history of periodontitis among women associated with reduced fecundability?

SUMMARY ANSWER

A history of periodontitis, as assessed by three different self-reported measures, may be associated with reduced fecundability.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the hard and soft tissues surrounding the teeth. Few studies have evaluated the association between periodontitis and time to pregnancy, and findings are mixed. It is hypothesized that periodontitis may adversely affect time to pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

We conducted a prospective cohort study of 2764 female pregnancy planners residing in North America (March 2015-June 2020).

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Eligible participants had been attempting pregnancy for six or fewer menstrual cycles at enrollment and were not using fertility treatment. Women answered questions about their oral health. Pregnancy was ascertained via bi-monthly follow-up questionnaires. We used proportional probabilities regression models to estimate fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for three different measures indicative of a history of periodontitis: ever diagnosed with periodontitis (N = 265), ever received treatment for periodontitis (N = 299), and ever had an adult tooth become loose on its own (N = 83). We adjusted for potential confounders and precision variables. Women at risk of misclassification of periodontitis diagnosis due to pregnancy-related gingivitis were reclassified in a sensitivity analysis.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

All three indices of periodontitis may be associated with reduced fecundability. FRs were 0.89 (95% CI 0.75-1.06) comparing women with and without a previous periodontitis diagnosis, 0.79 (95% CI 0.67-0.94) comparing women with and without previous periodontitis treatment, and 0.71 (95% CI 0.44-1.16) comparing women with and without a tooth that became loose. After reclassification of pregnancy-related gingivitis in the sensitivity analysis, the FR for periodontitis diagnosis was 0.83 (95% CI 0.68-1.00). Weaker FRs were observed among parous women as compared with nulliparous women for periodontitis diagnosis and tooth becoming loose, but not for periodontitis treatment.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Though we used validated self-report measures of periodontitis, clinical confirmation is the gold standard. These questions may be functioning as markers of different levels of periodontitis severity, but we were unable to measure disease severity in this population. Finally, we cannot eliminate the possibility of unmeasured confounding.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This is the first preconception prospective cohort study to evaluate the association between self-reported periodontitis and fecundability. Our results indicate that periodontitis may be associated with lower fecundability.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This work was partially funded by R01HD086742/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and R21HD072326/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. PRESTO has received in-kind donations from Swiss Precision Diagnostics, Sandstone Diagnostics, FertilityFriend.com, and Kindara.com for primary data collection. L.A.W. is a fibroid consultant for AbbVie, Inc. J.C.B., S.W., J.Y., K.J.R., E.E.H., and B.H. have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Pregnancy and Dentistry: A Literature Review on Risk Management during Dental Surgical Procedures

Background: Pregnancy is a unique moment in a woman’s life, accompanied with several physiologic changes that have an impact on oral health. Aim of the study: The purpose of the present study was to conduct a critical review of published literature regarding pregnancy and dentistry, the most frequent oral diseases that are encountered during pregnancy, their correlation to adverse pregnancy events, and safe dental treatments that can be performed during pregnancy. Methods: A Medline/COCHRANE search was carried using specific keywords and MeSH terms, combined with the boolean operators “OR” and “AND”. Results: The search led to 146 publications including guidelines, meta-analyses, systematic and non-systematic reviews, published between 2000 and 2021. Discussion and conclusions: Due to the increased inflammatory and immune body response that characterizes pregnancy, periodontal conditions are often aggravated during pregnancy and periodontal disease encountered frequently in pregnant patients. There are conflicting study results in the literature regarding the association between periodontitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Periodontal treatment did not show a significant reduction in the adverse outcomes. Many dentists, often due to lack of information, are reluctant to provide dental treatment to pregnant women. However, preventive and restorative dental treatment is safe during pregnancy. Diagnostic radiographs may be performed after the first trimester if absolutely necessary. Analgesics (such as paracetamol) and anesthetics (such as lidocaine) are also considered safe. In case of infection, antibacterial drugs such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, and some cephalosporines and macrolides can also be prescribed. Organogenesis takes place in the first trimester, the time during which the fetus is susceptible to severe malformations (teratogenesis). The ideal time to perform dental treatment is the second trimester (week 17 to 28). However, acute pain or infections make the intervention of the dentist absolutely necessary and emergency treatment can be performed during the whole pregnancy period.

Association of preterm low-birth-weight infants and maternal periodontitis during pregnancy: An interventional study

CONTEXT

The impact of periodontal disease during pregnancy and its effect on adverse pregnancy outcomes is seen in the literature. When it comes to the link of disease related to periodontium to that of adverse pregnancy outcomes, a need can arise if a significant cause-effect relationship does exist or not between them.

AIM

The study was aimed to determine the association of periodontal health status in pregnant women with the occurrence of preterm low birth weight (LBW) infants in Vadodara, Gujarat.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

An interventional study with 100 patients was conducted, of which 67 participants were included in the control group and 33 participants were included in the intervention group. A total of 12 participants dropped out from the study and 88 were analyzed for the outcome.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The Community periodontal Index of Treatment needs index was taken for all enrolled participants and then were divided into interventional group and control group. Participants in the interventional group underwent scaling and root planning. Data related to the time of delivery and weight of the baby was taken from the hospital records.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

A comparison of baseline characteristics was made using unpaired t-test. Chi-square test was used for the analysis of intergroup comparison. The odds ratio and the relative risk calculation were also done. P ≤ 0.05 was considered for statistical significance.

RESULTS

The odds ratio for both preterm and LBW were 3.86 times and 2.96, respectively. The Chi-square statistical test analysis was statistically significant for both preterm and LBW infants on the intergroup comparison.

CONCLUSION

Periodontal disease can be considered as one of the risk factors for preterm LBW babies as not only the presence of disease condition causes an increase in inflammatory mediator but also the elimination of the disease condition reduces the adverse pregnancy outcomes.

A new mixed model of periodontitis-induced preeclampsia: A pilot study

OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown that periodontal disease is strongly related to gestational complications such as preeclampsia (PE). PE is responsible for 42% of maternal deaths worldwide and kills approximately 76 000 women a year. In addition, children born under PE conditions are at increased risk of hospitalization due to metabolic disorders, epilepsy, and other complications. Numerous reviews and clinical studies on PE have been published, but the mechanisms underlying the relationship between periodontal disease and PE and the way periodontopathogens alter vascular response in pregnant women remain unclear.

METHODS

This study aims to verify whether periodontal disease induces PE by using the association of two periodontitis (PD) models: ligature and oral Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) W83 inoculation in Wistar rats. At gestational day 5, the ligature was placed on each mandibular first molar, which was followed by daily oral P. gingivalis inoculation for 15 days. At gestational day 19, urine was collected, and invasive arterial pressure was measured. The animals were euthanized, and plasma and tissues were collected.

RESULTS

After 15 days of the association of ligature and P. gingivalis inoculation, the animals presented the characteristic symptoms of PE: altered blood pressure, proteinuria, and change in litter size (number of pups) and pup weight when compared to the control group (p < .005). The PE animals also presented greater bone porosity, trabecular separation, and reduced bone volume in the hemimandibles, as well as altered inflammatory response. The level of cytokine IL-6 was higher in the PE group than in the control group (p < .005).

CONCLUSION

The association of two PD models effectively induced PE. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the oral use of P. gingivalis for PE induction. Our results support the importance of PD as a possible cause for PE development, opening an important new avenue to study cause and consequence relationships in inflammation and PE due to exposure to periodontal infection.

Oral microbiome and pregnancy: A bidirectional relationship

The oral cavity contains the second most complex microbial population within the human body, with more than 700 bacterial organisms. Recent advances in Next Generation Sequencing technology have unraveled the complexities of the oral microbiome and provided valuable insights into its role in health and disease. The human oral microbiome varies dramatically during the different stages of life, including pregnancy. The total viable microbial counts in pregnant women are known to be higher compared to non-pregnant women, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. A balanced oral microbiome is vital for a healthy pregnancy, as perturbations in the oral microbiome composition can contribute to pregnancy complications. On the other hand, physiological changes and differences in hormonal levels during pregnancy, increase susceptibility to various oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. A growing body of evidence supports the link between the composition of the oral microbiome and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, preeclampsia, low birth weight among others. This review aims to summarize the dynamics of oral microbiome during pregnancy and to discuss the relationship between a dysbiotic oral microbiome and pregnancy complications.

Maternal periodontal status, oral inflammatory load, and systemic inflammation are associated with low infant birth weight

BACKGROUND

Periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes have been claimed to be associated with conflicting reports. The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the association between maternal periodontal status, oral inflammatory load and serum C- reactive protein (CRP) level, and infant birth weight.

METHODS

A total of 156 pregnant women (age 26.62 ± 3.93 years) within the gestational age group of 13 to 32 weeks participated in this cross-sectional study. Oral inflammatory load (OIL) was assessed in a salivary rinse sample using fluorescence microscopy. Clinical periodontal parameters were recorded and serum C-reactive protein level (CRP) was assessed. Participants were followed till delivery, details of parturition and infant birth weight (IBW) was recorded.

RESULTS

OIL was significantly more in participants with mild and moderate periodontitis as compared to those with gingivitis in mid and late stages of pregnancy. Periodontal and systemic inflammatory parameters were positively correlated. A significant negative correlation was found between IBW and OIL (P = 0.006) and serum CRP (P < 0.001). The GI score (P = 0.039), BOP% (P = 0.023), serum CRP level (P < 0.001) and oral polymorphonuclear neutrophil (oPMN) count (P < 0.001) was significantly more in mothers delivering babies with low IBW. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that only oPMN (β = - 0.244, P = 0.021) and serum CRP (β = - 0.226, P = 0.019) were included in the best model (R²  = 0.12, F(3,152) = 7.15, P < 0.001) for significantly predicting the infant birth weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor maternal periodontal status, increased oral inflammatory load and increased systemic inflammation have an adverse effect on infant birth weight.

Periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Periodontal diseases are considered not only to affect tooth-supporting tissues but also to have a cause-and-effect relationship with various systemic diseases and conditions, such as adverse pregnancy outcomes. Mechanistic studies provide strong evidence that periodontal pathogens can translocate from infected periodontium to the feto-placental unit and initiate a metastatic infection. However, the extent and mechanisms by which metastatic inflammation and injury contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes still remain unclear. The presence of oral bacteria in the placenta of women with term gestation further complicates our understanding of the biology behind the role of periodontal pathogens in pregnancy outcomes. Epidemiological studies demonstrate many methodological inconsistencies and flaws that render comparisons difficult and conclusions insecure. Therefore, despite the fact that a number of prospective studies show a positive association between periodontal diseases and various adverse pregnancy outcomes, the evidence behind it is still weak. Future well-designed explanatory studies are necessary to verify this relationship and, if present, determine its magnitude. The majority of high-quality randomized controlled trials reveal that nonsurgical periodontal therapy during the second trimester of gestation does not improve pregnancy outcomes. From a biological standpoint, this can be partially explained by the fact that therapy rendered at the fourth to sixth months of pregnancy is too late to prevent placental colonization by periodontal pathogens and consequently incapable of affecting pathogen-induced injury at the feto-placental unit. Thus, interventions during the preconception period may be more meaningful. With the increase in our understanding on the potential association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is clear that dental practitioners should provide periodontal treatment to pregnant women that is safe for both the mother and the unborn child. Although there is not enough evidence that the anti-infective therapy alters pregnancy outcomes, it improves health-promoting behavior and periodontal condition, which in turn advance general health and risk factor control.

[Research progress on the relationship and mechanisms between periodontal disease and preterm birth and low-birth-weight infants]

Preterm birth (PB) is defined as the birth of a baby less than 37 weeks of gestational age. Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as a newborn baby's weight of less than 2 500 g. PB is often accompanied by LBW. Preterm low birth weight (PLBW) is the leading cause of newborn deaths. Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic oral infectious disease, and it is closely related with general health. Epidemiological data show that PD is a risk factor for PLBW and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. The possible mechanisms include the direct effects of periodontal bacteria, inflammatory reactions, and immune response; however, the exact pathogenetic mechanism involved remains controversial. This article aims to review the research progress on the relationship between PD and PLBW and their underlying mechanisms, as well as the effects of periodontal treatment on PLBW incidence.

Maternal periodontitis and preterm birth: Systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To assess the association between periodontitis and preterm birth in women of childbearing age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review included analytical case-control studies and prospective cohort studies evaluating the association between maternal periodontitis and preterm birth. Of the 3104 screened articles, 31 met the inclusion criteria for the review, and 20 met the quality criteria. The selected studies included a total of 10 215 women.

RESULTS

Twenty articles contributed to the meta-analysis; 16 used a case-control design, and 4 were prospective cohort studies. The study heterogeneity was low (Q = 24.2464; P = 0.1869; I²  = 21.63%). A positive association between maternal periodontitis and preterm birth was found in 60% of the studies. Under the random-effects model, meta-analysis gave an odds ratio (OR) of 2.01 (95% CI 1.71, 2.36), representing a significant positive association between the explanatory and outcome variables.

CONCLUSION

Pregnant mothers with periodontitis double the risk of preterm birth. There is a lack of international consensus for diagnosing maternal periodontitis.

Calculus and survivorship in medieval London: The association between dental disease and a demographic measure of general health

OBJECTIVES

Dental plaque is associated with a variety of systemic diseases and mortality risks in living populations. However, bioarchaeologists have not fully investigated the mortality risks associated with plaque (or its mineralized form, calculus) in the past. This study examines the relationship between survivorship and calculus in a medieval skeletal sample.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our sample (n = 1,098) from four medieval London cemeteries, c. 1000-1540 CE, includes people who died under attritional (normal) and catastrophic (famine and plague) conditions. The associations between age and the presence of dental calculus on the permanent left first mandibular molar are assessed using binary logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTS

The regression results indicate a significant negative relationship between age and calculus presence for individuals of all ages who died under normal mortality conditions and for adults who died under both normal and catastrophic conditions. Survival analysis reveals decreased survivorship for people of all ages with calculus under normal mortality conditions. Similarly, during conditions of catastrophic mortality, adult males with calculus suffered reduced survivorship compared to males without it, though there was no difference in survivorship between adult females with and without calculus.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that, as in modern populations, calculus accumulation in the inhabitants of medieval London reflects a greater risk of premature death. The evaluation of calculus, a potential measure of underlying frailty, in the context of a demographic measure of general health suggests that it might provide insights into health in past populations.

Association between periodontitis and spontaneous abortion: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is a complication of pregnancy which can severely affect women both physically and psychologically. We investigated the associations of periodontitis and periodontopathic bacteria with spontaneous abortion.

METHODS

We conducted a matched case-control study in two tertiary hospitals in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Cases were 85 women with spontaneous abortion at <20 weeks of gestation matched to 85 controls on age, gestational age, and hospital. Full-mouth periodontal examinations were performed. Periodontitis was defined as at least one site with probing depth ≥5 mm and clinical attachment level ≥2 mm at the same site. Subgingival plaque samples were collected to determine the levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum using real time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The cases were significantly more likely to have periodontitis (50.6%) than the controls (21.2%; P = 0.007). Conditional logistic regression revealed a crude odds ratio (OR) of 4.1 for the association between periodontitis and spontaneous abortion (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9-8.9, P = 0.001). The OR decreased, but was still significant, after controlling for previous miscarriage (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.4-7.8, P = 0.006). There was no significant association between the levels of periodontopathic bacteria and spontaneous abortion. Increased levels of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were associated with periodontitis in both case and control groups. Association between increased T. forsythia levels and periodontitis was observed only in the case women.

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontitis was more common in women with spontaneous abortions as compared with matched controls. Levels of periodontopathic bacteria was not associated with spontaneous abortion in this population.

Improving Student's Self-Efficacy and Perceived Susceptibility Toward Oral and Dental Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives

We sought to assess the impact of educational intervention on female junior high school students' perceived susceptibility and self-efficacy regarding oral and dental health.

Methods

We recruited 100 female junior high school students (50 in intervention and 50 in control group) from Falavarjan city using multistage random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data about study variables. Students in the intervention group attended five 90-minute sessions designed to teach the students about dental hygiene.

Results

We found no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the preintervention mean scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, and self-efficacy (p > 0.050). The postintervention mean scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.050).

Conclusions

Training plans with particular behavioral goals and good instructional strategies can be useful in empowering students toward dental health.

Periodontal Disease and Pregnancy Outcomes: Overview of Systematic Reviews

Periodontal disease is very common during pregnancy. Although it has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, systematic reviews have reached discrepant conclusions on these links. Therefore, we conducted a systematic overview of systematic reviews studying the association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We searched 6 online databases up to November 2016 and hand-searched references and citations of eligible papers. Systematic reviews of studies comparing pregnancy outcomes among women with and without periodontal disease were eligible for inclusion. Primary outcomes were maternal mortality, preterm birth, and perinatal mortality. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias of individual systematic reviews. Findings are described in tabular and narrative form. Twenty-three systematic reviews (including between 3 and 45 studies) were included. None reported the association between periodontal disease and maternal or perinatal mortality. Systematic reviews with the lowest risk of bias consistently demonstrated positive associations between periodontal disease and preterm birth (relative risk, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 2.0; 17 studies, 6,741 participants), low birth weight (LBW; relative risk, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.1; 10 studies, 5,693 participants), preeclampsia (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.4; 15 studies, 5,111 participants), and preterm LBW (relative risk 3.4; 95% CI, 1.3 to 8.8; 4 studies, 2,263 participants). Based on these figures, estimated population-attributable fractions for periodontal disease were 5% to 38% for preterm birth, 6% to 41% for LBW, and 10% to 55% for preeclampsia. In terms of limitations, as several primary studies did not adjust for confounding, meta-analyses may have overestimated the strength of the associations under study. Due to substantial overlap in included primary studies, we could not aggregate results across reviews. Consistent evidence from systematic reviews with low risk of bias indicates that pregnant women with periodontal disease are at increased risk of developing preeclampsia and delivering a preterm and/or LBW baby (PROSPERO: CRD42015030132).

Knowledge Transfer Statement: This study highlights that periodontal disease is an important risk factor for several common adverse pregnancy outcomes. Clinicians should be aware of this link to guide risk selection. Research is needed to develop novel preventive and treatment strategies.

The oral microbiome and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Significant evidence supports an association between periodontal pathogenic bacteria and preterm birth and preeclampsia. The virulence properties assigned to specific oral pathogenic bacteria, for example, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Filifactor alocis, Campylobacter rectus, and others, render them as potential collaborators in adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Several pathways have been suggested for this association: 1) hematogenous spread (bacteremia) of periodontal pathogens; 2) hematogenous spread of multiple mediators of inflammation that are generated by the host and/or fetal immune response to pathogenic bacteria; and 3) the possibility of oral microbial pathogen transmission, with subsequent colonization, in the vaginal microbiome resulting from sexual practices. As periodontal disease is, for the most part, preventable, the medical and dental public health communities can address intervention strategies to control oral inflammatory disease, lessen the systemic inflammatory burden, and ultimately reduce the potential for adverse pregnancy outcomes. This article reviews the oral, vaginal, and placental microbiomes, considers their potential impact on preterm labor, and the future research needed to confirm or refute this relationship.

Treating periodontal disease for preventing adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Periodontal disease has been linked with a number of conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and adverse pregnancy outcomes, all likely through systemic inflammatory pathways. It is common in women of reproductive age and gum conditions tend to worsen during pregnancy. Some evidence from observational studies suggests that periodontal intervention may reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is need for a comprehensive Cochrane review of randomised trials to assess the effect of periodontal treatment on perinatal and maternal health.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of treating periodontal disease in pregnant women in order to prevent or reduce perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality.

SEARCH METHODS

Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist searched the following databases: Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register (to 6 October 2016), Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register (to 7 October 2016), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2016, Issue 9) in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to 6 October 2016), Embase Ovid (1980 to 6 October 2016), and LILACS BIREME Virtual Health Library (Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database; 1982 to 6 October 2016). ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched for ongoing trials on 6 October 2016. We placed no restrictions on the language or date of publication when searching the electronic databases.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of periodontal treatment in preventing or reducing perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. We excluded studies where obstetric outcomes were not reported.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts and extracted data using a prepiloted data extraction form. Missing data were obtained by contacting authors and risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane's 'Risk of bias' tool. Where appropriate, results of comparable trials were pooled and expressed as risk ratios (RR) or mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) . The random-effects model was used for pooling except where there was an insufficient number of studies. We assessed the quality of the evidence using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

There were 15 RCTs (n = 7161 participants) meeting our inclusion criteria. All the included studies were at high risk of bias mostly due to lack of blinding and imbalance in baseline characteristics of participants. The studies recruited pregnant women from prenatal care facilities who had periodontitis (14 studies) or gingivitis (1 study).The two main comparisons were: periodontal treatment versus no treatment during pregnancy and periodontal treatment versus alternative periodontal treatment. The head-to-head comparison between periodontal treatments assessed a more intensive treatment versus a less intensive one.Eleven studies compared periodontal treatment with no treatment during pregnancy. The meta-analysis shows no clear difference in preterm birth < 37 weeks (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.10; 5671 participants; 11 studies; low-quality evidence) between periodontal treatment and no treatment. There is low-quality evidence that periodontal treatment may reduce low birth weight < 2500 g (9.70% with periodontal treatment versus 12.60% without treatment; RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.95; 3470 participants; 7 studies).It is unclear whether periodontal treatment leads to a difference in preterm birth < 35 weeks (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.76; 2557 participants; 2 studies; ) and < 32 weeks (RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.78 to 2.32; 2755 participants; 3 studies), low birth weight < 1500 g (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.70; 2550 participants; 2 studies), perinatal mortality (including fetal and neonatal deaths up to the first 28 days after birth) (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.43; 5320 participants; 7 studies; very low-quality evidence), and pre-eclampsia (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.62; 2946 participants; 3 studies; very low-quality evidence). There is no evidence of a difference in small for gestational age (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.16; 3610 participants; 3 studies; low-quality evidence) when periodontal treatment is compared with no treatment.Four studies compared periodontal treatment with alternative periodontal treatment. Data pooling was not possible due to clinical heterogeneity. The outcomes reported were preterm birth < 37 weeks, preterm birth < 35 weeks, birth weight < 2500 g, birth weight < 1500 g and perinatal mortality (very low-quality evidence). It is unclear whether there is a difference in < 37 weeks, preterm birth < 35 weeks, birth weight < 2500 g, birth weight < 1500 g and perinatal mortality when different periodontal treatments are compared because the quality of evidence is very low.Maternal mortality and adverse effects of the intervention did not occur in any of the studies that reported on either of the outcomes.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

It is not clear if periodontal treatment during pregnancy has an impact on preterm birth (low-quality evidence). There is low-quality evidence that periodontal treatment may reduce low birth weight (< 2500 g), however, our confidence in the effect estimate is limited. There is insufficient evidence to determine which periodontal treatment is better in preventing adverse obstetric outcomes. Future research should aim to report periodontal outcomes alongside obstetric outcomes.

Reducing low birth weight: prioritizing action to address modifiable risk factors

Background

Low birth weight (LBW) affects 6.9% of all UK births and has remained largely unchanged for many years. The United Nations and the World Health Assembly have set targets to substantially reduce global incidence. Understanding the contribution of modifiable risk factors to the burden of LBW is required to ensure appropriate interventions are in place to achieve this reduction.

Methods

Data from published studies on the risks from key modifiable factors were used alongside prevalence data from the Welsh population to calculate the population attributable risk for each factor individually and in combination.

Results

Fourteen risk factors accounted for nearly half of LBW births, and 60% of those to younger mothers (<25 years). Tobacco smoke exposure was the largest contributor. We estimated that smoking in pregnancy was a factor in one in eight LBW births, increasing to one in five for women aged under 25.

Conclusions

Risk factors are interrelated and inequitably distributed within the population. Exposure to one factor increases the likelihood of exposure to a constellation of factors further increasing risk. Action to address LBW must consider groups where the risk factors are most prevalent and address these risk factors together using multi-component interventions.

The Association between Periodontal Disease and Preterm Low Birthweight in Kosovo

OBJECTIVE

Periodontal diseases have a high prevalence worldwide. Existing evidence support the concept that gingivitis and periodontitis are potentially infectious and they present inflammatory reservoirs that can be threatening to the fetoplacental unit. The objective of this study was to compare the periodontal status between women with normal delivery and those with preterm low-birthweight delivery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 200 postpartum women whose periodontal and obstetrical parameters were taken. The periodontal condition was assessed bedside according to the modified criteria established by Machtei, while the birthweight and gestational age were assessed according to the World Health Organization criteria.

RESULTS

Women with periodontitis are statistically at 3.2 times higher risk to deliver a child with low weight, and at 3.4 times higher risk to deliver preterm, compared to women without periodontitis. The women with preterm low-birthweight babies had deeper periodontal pockets (2.49mm ± 0.49mm) than women with normal delivery (2.26mm ± 0.49mm).

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontal disease in pregnant women with a reservoir of organisms and their products can be considered a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome.

Periodontitis, cardiovascular disease and pregnancy outcome--focal infection revisited?

Over the last two decades there has been a renewed interest around the possible effects of periodontal disease on both cardiovascular health and pregnancy outcome (among other diseases), a topic which has interested science for hundreds of years. These have led to a range of studies, workshops and consensus documents being published, with corresponding coverage in general and professional media. In this article the authors summarise the history and supporting theories behind such associations, whether clinical studies have been able to confirm these and what this might mean for general practitioners who are questioned on this topic by patients.

Effect of Educational Intervention on Perceived Susceptibility Self-Efficacy and DMFT of Pregnant Women

Background

The World Health Organization identifies oral health as a necessity for public health through the entirety of life. This issue has been considerably addressed due to susceptibility to tooth decay during pregnancy and maternal and fetal health.

Objectives

Investigate the effect of educational intervention on perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and DMFT of pregnant women.

Patients and Methods

A quasi-experimental survey (pretest, posttest, and control group) was implemented in 88 primiparous women in the first trimester of pregnancy who attended private clinics in Delfan city, Iran. It was conducted using random sampling and then assigned to intervention and control groups. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, a DMFT checklist, and some health belief model (HBM) constructs. After collecting baseline information, an educational intervention consisting of 4 training sessions for the intervention group was scheduled. In the sessions, lecture, focus-group discussion, video, and role-playing were used as the main educational strategies. Four months after the intervention, a post-test questionnaire and DMFT checklist were conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS (ver20) software and Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA at the significant level of α < 0.05.

Results

According to the independent t-test, the mean score of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and DMFT was not different between the two groups before the education (P > 0.05), during the intervention, or after intervention. Repeated measure ANOVA explained that the aforementioned score was different in the three cases (pretest, 2 months after intervention, and 4 months after intervention) after intervention (P < 0.05). Paired t-test also showed that the DMFT mean increased 4 months after intervention in the control group (P < 0.001). It was not, however, augmented in the intervention group (P = 0.92).

Conclusions

Results showed that education on some of the HBM constructs resulted in increased knowledge of oral health, perceived susceptibility, and self-efficacy of pregnant women. It is also possible to prevent increased DMFT during pregnancy.

The effects of periodontal treatment on pregnancy outcomes

BACKGROUND

Preterm infants are at greater risk than term infants for physical and developmental disorders. Morbidity and mortality increases as gestational age at delivery decreases. Observational studies indicate an association between poor periodontal health and risk for preterm birth or low birthweight, making periodontitis a potentially modifiable risk factor for prematurity.

AIM

To identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2011 and July 2012 and discuss all published RCTs testing whether periodontal therapy reduces rates of preterm birth and low birthweight.

METHODS

Search of databases including PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Cochrane Library.

RESULTS

The single RCT identified showed no significant effect of periodontal treatment on birth outcomes.

DISCUSSION

All published trials included non-surgical periodontal therapy; only two included systemic antimicrobials as part of test therapy. The trials varied substantially in terms of sample size, obstetric histories of subjects, study preterm birth rates and the periodontal treatment response. The largest trials--also judged to be high-quality and at low risk of bias--have yielded consistent results, and indicate that treatment does not alter rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Non-surgical periodontal therapy, scaling and root planing, does not improve birth outcomes in pregnant women with periodontitis.

The effects of periodontal treatment on pregnancy outcomes

BACKGROUND

Preterm infants are at greater risk than term infants for physical and developmental disorders. Morbidity and mortality increases as gestational age at delivery decreases. Observational studies indicate an association between poor periodontal health and risk for preterm birth or low birthweight, making periodontitis a potentially modifiable risk factor for prematurity.

AIM

To identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2011 and July 2012 and discuss all published RCTs testing whether periodontal therapy reduces rates of preterm birth and low birthweight.

METHODS

Search of databases including PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Cochrane Library.

RESULTS

The single RCT identified showed no significant effect of periodontal treatment on birth outcomes.

DISCUSSION

All published trials included non-surgical periodontal therapy; only two included systemic antimicrobials as part of test therapy. The trials varied substantially in terms of sample size, obstetric histories of subjects, study preterm birth rates and the periodontal treatment response. The largest trials - also judged to be high-quality and at low risk of bias - have yielded consistent results, and indicate that treatment does not alter rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Non-surgical periodontal therapy, scaling and root planing, does not improve birth outcomes in pregnant women with periodontitis.

Epidemiology of association between maternal periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes--systematic review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

There is still debate regarding potential relationships between maternal periodontitis during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the available epidemiological evidence on this association.

DATA SOURCES

Combined electronic and hand search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, WEB OF SCIENCE and Cochrane Central Register databases.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Original publications reporting data from cross-sectional, case-control or prospective cohort epidemiological studies on the association between periodontal status and preterm birth, low birthweight (LBW) or preeclampsia. The search was not limited to publications in English. All selected studies provided data based on professional assessments of periodontal status, and outcome variables, including preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation), LBW (<2500 g), gestational age, small for gestational age, birthweight, pregnancy loss or miscarriage, or pre-eclampsia.

PARTICIPANTS

Pregnant women with or without periodontal disease, and with or without adverse pregnancy outcomes, assessed either during pregnancy or postpartum. No intervention studies were included. Study appraisal and synthesis methods - Publications were assessed based on predefined screening criteria including type of periodontal assessment, consistency in the timing of the periodontal assessment with respect to gestational age, examiner masking and consideration of additional exposures and confounders.

RESULTS

Maternal periodontitis is modestly but significantly associated with LBW and preterm birth, but the use of a categorical or a continuous exposure definition of periodontitis appears to impact the findings: Although significant associations emerge from case-control and cross-sectional studies using periodontitis "case definitions," these were substantially attenuated in studies assessing periodontitis as a continuous variable. Data from prospective studies followed a similar pattern, but associations were generally weaker. Maternal periodontitis was significantly associated with pre-eclampsia.

LIMITATIONS

There is a high degree of variability in study populations, recruitment and assessment, as well as differences in how data are recorded and handled. As a result, studies included in meta-analyses show a high degree of heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS

Maternal periodontitis is modestly but independently associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, but the findings are impacted by periodontitis case definitions. It is suggested that future studies employ both continuous and categorical assessments of periodontal status. Further use of the composite outcome preterm LBW is not encouraged.

Oral-systemic health during pregnancy: exploring prenatal and oral health providers' information, motivation and behavioral skills

Pregnancy is identified as a sensitive period of increased risk for poor oral health among mothers and offspring. Subsequently, both medical and dental associations have re-endorsed consolidated, inter-professional guidelines promoting oral health during pregnancy. The objective was to explore prenatal and oral health providers' information, motivation and practice behaviors related to oral health during pregnancy. Twenty-two in-depth interviews were conducted with prenatal and oral health providers based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method in NVivo 10. Providers held variable knowledge with regards to identified oral-systemic connections and implications. Most providers were unaware of the guidelines; however, some oral health providers reported avoiding specific treatment behaviors during this period. Motivation to address oral-systemic health during pregnancy included: prevention; healthy pregnancy/birth outcomes; patient's complaint/question as cue to action; comprehensive, patient-centered, and family-centered care; ethical duty; and professional governing body. Oral health providers reported assessing, educating, and communicating with patients about oral health issues; whereas prenatal providers rarely addressed oral health but reported signing approval forms to receive such care. A few oral health providers highlighted lifecourse implications and the need for family-centered care when addressing poor oral health among pregnant patients. Findings suggest gaps in oral health prevention information and behaviors among prenatal and oral health providers. Future efforts should examine effective dissemination and implementation strategies that translate evidence-based guidelines into clinical practice, with the ultimate goal of improve oral-systemic health among women and their offspring across the lifecourse.

Effect of maternal periodontitis and low birth weight--a case control study

INTRODUCTION

Since the 1990s, evidence has been raised that there is an association between maternal periodontal disease and undesirable gestational events, for example low birth weight; this issue is controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether there is an association between maternal periodontitis and low birth weight (LBW).

METHODS

A case-control study was carried out on 951 mothers that had been cared for by the Brazilian Unified Health System in Petrolina-PE and Juazeiro-BA, Brazil. The case group (n = 269) consisted of mothers of newborns with birth weight <2500 g and a control group (n = 682) of mothers of newborns with birth weight ≥2500 g. An interview was realized, using a questionnaire as well as a full mouth examination to diagnose the periodontal condition. Women who had at least four teeth with probing depth ≥4 mm and clinical attachment loss ≥3 mm, with bleeding on probing at the same site, were diagnosed with periodontitis. The birth weight was obtained through the hospital book record. The main association was evaluated using the multivariate regression model, considering confounders.

RESULTS

The frequency of periodontitis was 16.4% (case group) and 17.4% (control group). Periodontitis did not show an association with LBW (ORcrude = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.63-1.35), even after adjustment for the following confounders: maternal age, pre-gestational body mass index, number of pre-natal consultations, number of pregnancies, maternal schooling level, smoking habit during pregnancy and hypertension (ORadjusted = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.61-1.68).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study showed no association between maternal periodontal disease and low birth weight, even after appropriate adjustments for confounding factors.

Oral health promotion interventions during pregnancy: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Maternal oral disease during pregnancy is a significant public health issue due to its prevalence and lifecourse connections with adverse pregnancy/birth outcomes, early childhood caries, and chronic diseases. Although both medical and dental professional organizations have discipline-specific and co-endorsed guidelines, whether interventions exist that translate oral health evidence into practice remains unknown. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to examine the range, scope and impact of existing oral health promotion interventions during pregnancy.

METHODS

Search terms related to oral health, health promotion, and pregnancy produced 7754 articles published before March 2013 from five search engines.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

(i) intervention-based; (ii) quasi-experimental, experimental, or pretest/post-test design; (iii) pregnant women participants; (iv) outcomes including oral health knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviors; (v) ≥5 participants; (vi) peer-review publication; and (vii) English language.

RESULTS

All interventions (n = 7) were delivered in prenatal care settings and focused on education. Modalities varied, including the use of oral instruction and audiovisual presentations, in both individual and group formats; however, content was directed toward infant oral health. Few studies specifically addressed prenatal oral health guidelines. Primary outcomes measured included knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, self-efficacy and oral hygiene, and health-seeking behaviors. All but one study showed significant improvement in one of these outcomes postintervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Few oral health interventions among pregnant women addressed oral-related symptoms, hygiene behaviors, and potential oral-systemic implications specific to mothers. Subsequently, more theory- and evidence-based interventions addressing current prenatal oral health guidelines using rigorous designs are needed to improve oral and systemic health for both women and their offspring.

Relationship between periodontal diseases and preterm birth: Recent epidemiological and biological data

Preterm infants are born prior to completion of 37 weeks of gestation. These patients are seen on the rise despite the efforts put in to control them. Global incidence of preterm birth is around 9.6% of all birth representing 12.9 million births with regional disparities: From 12% to 13% in USA, from 5% to 9% in Europe, and 18% in Africa. First reported by Offenbacher et al. in 1996 relationship exist between maternal periodontal disease and delivery of a preterm infant. This article reviews the recent epidemiological and biological data. The articles were searched on Google, PubMed recent articles were selected. Mainly, three hypotheses by which periodontal bacteria can affect the outcome of pregnancy. Biological hypothesis: (a) Bacterial spreading, (b) Inflammatory products dissemination, (c) Role of fetomaternal immune response against oral pathogens. The promotion of the early detection and treatments of periodontal disease in young women before and during pregnancy will be beneficial especially for women at risk.

Role of cytokines in development of pre-eclampsia associated with periodontal disease - Cohort Study

AIM

The present study was designed to find any association of cytokines in women with periodontal disease and development of pre-eclampsia in North Indian population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 504 consecutively registered primigravida with a single live pregnancy were recruited at 14-18 weeks of gestation from antenatal clinic of Maulana Azad Medical College & associated Lok Nayak Hospital and Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi. One periodontist performed oral health examination of all patients at inclusion into study. Blood samples were collected to measure the level of cytokines IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ.

RESULTS

The profile of blood levels of cytokines from women with periodontal disease was observed. The log serum levels of TNF-α & IL-4 at 16-18 weeks of gestation were significantly higher in women with periodontal disease (4.13 ± 2.06; 0.47 ± 1.56 pg/ml respectively) than in women with healthy gums (2.16 ± 1.51; 0.02 ± 1.84 pg/ml respectively, p < 0.001). Periodontal disease is associated with log serum TNF-α levels at cut-off ≥14.43 pg/ml at sensitivity 71.2% and specificity 62% (OR = 4.04; 95%CI = 2.77-5.87). Woman with periodontal disease who later developed pre-eclampsia had lower levels of TNF-α (3.72 ± 1.33 pg/ml) than those with periodontal disease who did not develop pre-eclampsia (4.20 ± 2.15 pg/ml, p ≥ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Reduced TNF-α level secretion in the early second trimester in women with periodontal disease appears to be associated with the development of pre-eclampsia.

Assessing the association between oral hygiene and preterm birth by quantitative light-induced fluorescence

The aim of this study was to investigate the purported link between oral hygiene and preterm birth by using image analysis tools to quantify dental plaque biofilm. Volunteers (n = 91) attending an antenatal clinic were identified as those considered to be "at high risk" of preterm delivery (i.e., a previous history of idiopathic preterm delivery, case group) or those who were not considered to be at risk (control group). The women had images of their anterior teeth captured using quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF). These images were analysed to calculate the amount of red fluorescent plaque (ΔR%) and percentage of plaque coverage. QLF showed little difference in ΔR% between the two groups, 65.00% case versus 68.70% control, whereas there was 19.29% difference with regard to the mean plaque coverage, 25.50% case versus 20.58% control. A logistic regression model showed a significant association between plaque coverage and case/control status (P = 0.031), controlling for other potential predictor variables, namely, smoking status, maternal age, and body mass index (BMI).

Bi-directional relationship between pregnancy and periodontal disease

During pregnancy profound perturbations in innate and adaptive immunity impact the clinical course of a number of infectious diseases, including those affecting periodontal tissues. Conversely, it has been suggested that periodontal infections may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this review, a summary of the literature associated with the bidirectional relationship between pregnancy and periodontal disease as well as the possible mechanisms behind this interaction were examined.

Association between maternal periodontal disease and preterm delivery and low birth weight

OBJECTIVE

It has been suggested that periodontal disease is an important risk factor for preterm low birth weight (PLBW). The purpose of this study was to determine the association of maternal periodontitis with low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pregnant women (n = 211) aged 22-40 years were enrolled while receiving prenatal care. Dental plaque, probing depth, bleeding on probing, and clinical attachment level were used as criteria to classify three groups: a healthy group (HG; n = 82), a gingivitis group (GG; n = 67), and a periodontitis group (PG; n = 62). At delivery, birth weight was recorded.

RESULTS

Mean infant weight at delivery was 3084.9 g. The total incidence of preterm birth and LBW infants was 10.4% and 8.1%, respectively. The incidence of LBW infants was 4.2% for term and 40.9% for preterm gestations. Maternal height was not correlated with infant birth weight (p = 0.245). Significant differences in mean infant birth weight were observed among the HG, GG, and PG groups (p = 0.030). No significant relationship was found between periodontal disease and PB, but the association between periodontal disease and LBW was significant.

CONCLUSION

After appropriately controlling for confounding variables, our results do not support the hypothesis of an association that was observed in previous studies of maternal periodontal disease and infant PB, but the association between periodontal disease and LBW is significant.

Evaluation of Periodontitis as a Risk for Preterm Birth among Preeclamptic and Non-Preeclamptic Pregnant Women - A Case Control Study

BACKGROUND

Periodontal disease during pregnancy markedly increases the woman's risk of developing preeclampsia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare whether periodontal disease increases the risk of preterm birth among preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic pregnant women.

METHODS

A total of 200 pregnant women (100 preeclamptic and 100 non-preeclamptic) with periodontitis aged 20 to 30 years & < to 26(th) week of gestation. Maternal demographic and medical data was collected from concerned institutes. In both groups, blood pressure of more than 140/80 mm Hg, presence of protein in 24 hours urine, of more than 1gm per litre in 2 or more mid stream specimens obtained 6 hours apart in the absence urinary tract infection, confirmed by 0.3 g per 24 hours of urine specimens and ankle edema were measured. The periodontal status was categorised as healthy, mild, moderate/severe our worsening. Probing depth (PD), attachment levels and bleeding on probing were measured with UNC-15 probe at six sites per tooth. All the periodontal parameters were measured at second prenatal visit and within 48 hours post-partum.

RESULTS

The present study revealed; the Incidence of preterm birth in relation to periodontal status in preeclamptic patients was significantly high (p<0.001). Total incidence of preterm birth in relation to periodontal status in preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic had chi-square value of 17.7, which is highly significant (p< 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that pregnant women with preeclampsia are at greater risk for preterm delivery if periodontal disease is present during pregnancy or progress during pregnancy and also rate of preterm delivery is more in preeclamptic women having moderate to severe periodontal disease.