Periodontal Disease In Pregnant Women Research Articles

Relationship between periodontal disease in pregnant women and the nutritional condition of their newborns.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal periodontal disease (PD) could be associated with the nutritional condition of newborns. After controlling for traditional risk factors for premature childbirth and low birth weight, 69 mothers were selected: 13 were periodontally healthy and 56 had varying stages of PD. They and their newborns formed the study population. PD presence and severity were clinically determined using Russell's periodontal index. The nutritional evaluation of the newborns was determined by Lubchenco's modified growth patterns. A decrease in the average newborn's weight and gestational age was observed as the mother's level of PD increased. Correlation analysis demonstrated a highly significant clinical relationship between more severe PD and lower birth weight (r = -0.49; P < 0.01); a highly significant relationship was also clinically demonstrated between increasing PD severity and decreasing gestational age of the newborn babies (r = -0.59; P < 0.01). There were significant differences in the weight and gestational age of the newborns of mothers with PD. These data suggest that PD in pregnant women could be a clinically significant risk factor for preterm deliveries and low birth weight. There was considerable variability in the results, and these preliminary findings need to be confirmed in larger studies.

Relationships between periodontal health, salivary steroids, and Bacteroides intermedius in males, pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Relationships between four steroids, determined by radio-immunoassay of whole saliva, and clinical and bacteriological parameters were studied in 90 subjects: males, menstruating females, and pregnant females. Pocket depths and both plaque and gingival bleeding scores were recorded. Total counts and percentages of Gram-negative organisms Bacteroides and B. intermedius were determined from anaerobic cultures of subgingival plaque from 9-14 subjects in each group. None of the clinical parameters for the pregnant females differed significantly from those of non-pregnant females, nor did these parameters show any significant correlation with progression of pregnancy. No correlations were detected between bacterial and clinical parameters in the pregnant group. There were no statistically significant differences between the total bacterial counts from the three groups, yet males had significantly higher proportions of Gram-negative bacteria, Bacteroides, and B. intermedius, than did pregnant and non-pregnant females. Proportions of B. intermedius did not differ significantly between the two female groups, nor was there any correlation with progression of pregnancy. While some steroids appeared to affect some clinical or bacteriological parameters in some groups, no obvious patterns consistent with different steroid levels were detected. The results do not indicate that increased hormone levels cause more severe periodontal disease in pregnant women, nor that high salivary steroid levels result in increased recovery of B. intermedius from subgingival plaque.