Relationship between maternal periodontal disease and preterm low birth weight

Preterm low birth weight is a worldwide leading perinatal problem having public health implications. Maternal infections and inflammation have long been thought to contribute to poor pregnancy outcome. The present research was undertaken to determine the influence of periodontal disease on pregnant women and their newborns’ nutritional conditions.

After controlling for traditional risk factors for preterm low birth weight, 70 mothers were selected. Periodontal disease was clinically determined using Ramfjord Index. The women were divided into four groups- Health, Gingivitis, Initial periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. The nutritional evaluation of the newborn was based on the work of Lubchenko et al which requires an exact determination of the infants’ gestational age and birth weight.

A decrease in the average newborn's birth weight and gestational age was observed as the mothers’ level of periodontal disease increased. Correlation analysis demonstrated a highly significant clinical relationship between more severe periodontal disease in mother and low birth weight of the infant (p<0.01). A highly significant relationship was also demonstrated between increasing periodontal disease and decreasing gestational age of the newborn babies(p<0.01).