Periodontal disease in pregnant women and risk factors for the preterm birth

Abstract

This study investigated the correlation between periodontal disease in pregnant women, risk factors to this disease and the preterm birth occurrence. The subjects were 143 women, aged over 18, among which 70 had preterm birth (less than 37 gestational weeks), and 73 who had term over 37 gestational weeks. Clinical assessment devices and a socio-economical questionnaire were used to identify the variables such as: age, education level, socioeconomical level and oral hygiene. The assessment of the bucal conditions was carried out through a clinical test performed by two trained examiners, using the Periodontal Screening and Recording rate (PSR). The data collected were statistically analized by the SPSS 10.0 programm. In the 143 women were assessed it was not observed significant differences in the results of the Qui-square test for the variables PSR rate, age, previous periodontal treatment, education level and income. Regarding the risk factors to preterm birth, it was observed that age over 30 (odds radio, 1.3; intervale confiance 0.6 – 2.8) and the fact of not having a previous periodontal treatment (odds radio, 1.2, confidence intervale 0.5 – 2.4) may contribute to the preterm birth of children. Key words: Periodontal disease. Preterm birth. Risk factors.