Contribution of periodontal disease in pregnant women as a risk factor for low birth weight.

Unlabelled: Starting in the 1990s, several authors sought to investigate the hypothesis that periodontitis during pregnancy may contribute towards the birth of low-weight children. However, this relationship is still not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this oral infection is associated with this gestational event.

Periodontal therapy for pregnant women and cases of low birthweight: an intervention study.

Background: Over the past decade, strong evidence for an association between maternal periodontitis and low birthweight has started to appear. However, few intervention studies have been proposed for investigating this hypothesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether periodontal therapy among pregnant women would reduce the incidence of low birthweight.

Exposure measurement in the association between periodontal disease and prematurity/low birth weight.

Aim: To compare the use of different definitions for exposure measurement in cases of association between periodontal disease (PD) and prematurity and/or low birth weight (PLBW).

Material And Methods: A database from a previous case-control study was used to compare four different definitions for periodontitis: at least one site with probing depth > or =4 mm (1); at least one site with clinical attachment loss (CAL)> or =3 mm (2); at least four teeth with one or more sites presenting probing depth > or =4 mm, with CAL> or =3 mm at the same site (3); and at least four teeth with one or more sites with probing depth > or =4 mm, with CAL> or =3 mm at the same site and presence of bleeding on probing (4). The PD frequency, diagnostic values and adjusted association measurements were calculated.

The association between postmenopausal osteoporosis and periodontal disease.

Background: The clinical importance of systemic bone loss as a contributory factor to alveolar bone loss and the subsequent loss of teeth merits further study, given that osteoporosis and periodontal disease lead to significantly increased morbidity and mortality and higher public expenditure of funds. This case-control study evaluated the association between osteoporosis and periodontal disease.

Methods: The sample consisted of 139 postmenopausal women: 48 in the case group (with periodontal disease) and 91 in the control group (without periodontal disease).