Maternal periodontal disease and perinatal mortality.

Background: Periodontal disease has been associated with increased perinatal mortality.

Aims: To examine the association between maternal periodontal disease and perinatal mortality.

Methods: We performed a retrospective and prospective matched case-control study of women with unexplained perinatal mortality at more than 20 weeks gestational age.

Periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Periodontal disease is a common infectious disease in women of reproductive age. The disease is often not diagnosed and in studies of over 10 000 women has been associated with preterm birth, small for gestational age newborns, and preeclampsia. It has been shown in a smaller number of women that treatment of periodontal disease may reduce the rate of preterm birth.