- Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic inflammatory condition related to oral health that affects 19% of adults globally, and there's concern that it may increase preterm birth risks in pregnant women due to inflammation and immune responses.
- A systematic review involving five clinical trials with 1,984 pregnant patients assessed whether non-surgical treatment for PD could prevent preterm births, revealing that most studies leaned towards treatment being beneficial but lacked significant statistical evidence.
- Ultimately, the research found no strong association between PD and preterm birth rates in pregnant women, although there was a slight suggestion that treatment could be advantageous.