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Dental Care Lowers Preterm Birth Risk
Reported March 09, 2010
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- One of the first things an expectant mother
should do is schedule a trip to the dentist, especially if she has a history
of gum disease.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and
Washington University, St. Louis, conducted a study to determine the effect
of successful periodontal treatment on preterm births.
A total of 872 pregnant subjects between 6 and 20 weeks gestation were
enrolled in the study to determine whether successful periodontal treatment
reduces the risk of preterm birth. One hundred and sixty subjects with
periodontal disease were treated with scaling and root planing. Subjects
received periodontal examinations before and after scaling and root planing.
The primary study outcome was the occurrence of spontaneous preterm birth at
less than 35 weeks gestation. Subjects without periodontal disease had a 7.2
percent rate of premature birth at less than 35 weeks gestation, while
subjects with periodontal disease had a 23.4 percent rate of prematurity
before 35 weeks gestation. Subjects who were successfully treated for their
periodontal disease had a significantly lower incidence of preterm birth at
less than 35 weeks gestation.
SOURCE: Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for
Dental Research, March 5, 2010 |
