Objective: The aim of this study is to verify the existence of an association between maternal periodontal disease and pre-term delivery in an unselected population of post-partum Turkish women.
Materials and methods: This case-control study was conducted on 100 women who gave birth in either a special or a government maternity hospital. The case group consisted of 50 mothers who had delivered an infant before 37 weeks' gestation and weighed under 2500 g. The control group included 50 mothers who had given birth to an infant with a birth weight of more than 2500 g and a gestational age of ≥37 weeks. Data of mothers and infants were collected using medical registers and questionnaires. Clinical periodontal examinations were carried out in six sites on every tooth in the mother's mouth. A participant who presented at least four teeth with one or more sites with a PPD ≥4 mm and CAL ≥3 mm at the same site was considered to have periodontal disease. Statistical methods included parametric and non-parametric tests and multiple logistic regression analysis.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the cases and controls with regard to periodontal disease and pre-term delivery (OR = 1.48; 95% CI = 0.54-4.06).
Conclusion: The findings indicated that maternal periodontitis was not a possible risk factor for pre-term delivery. Further studies with additional clinical trials are needed to explore the possible relationship between periodontal disease and pre-term birth.
Keywords: low birth weight; periodontitis; pre-term birth; risk factors.