Association between periodontitis, periodontopathogens and preterm birth: is it real?

PURPOSE: To identify the association between periodontitis and periodontal pathogens with preterm birth despite the strict control of some important confounders, such as infectious processes and criteria for diagnosis of periodontitis during pregnancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study were included 70 healthy puerperal women between 20 and 35 years without a history of genitourinary infections during pregnancy. Based on the gestational age they were divided into two groups: 45 with term birth (>37 weeks) and 25 with preterm birth (<37 weeks). Previous informed consent, a gynecologic and dental history that included gynecologic and obstetric background, periodontal status applying different authors' criteria of periodontitis diagnosis, presence of periodontopathogens, dental caries and oral hygiene were recorded.

RESULTS: There was no association between periodontitis, periodontopathogens and preterm birth. There were no statistical differences applying different authors' criteria diagnosis of periodontitis. Gingivitis status was similar, but probing depth was greater in preterm birth subjects, perhaps they are young women, and this finding could be an early sign of periodontitis. In like manner, the main periodontal bacterial species are not associated with preterm birth, general hygiene and care habits are poorer than term birth subjects.

CONCLUSION: We could suggest that preterm birth is a multifactorial condition and the role of periodontitis and the periodontopathogens itself is not sufficient to trigger the preterm birth. There are factors such as infectious processes and diagnostic criteria for periodontitis that could be responsible for controversial results.