Contribution of periodontal disease in pregnant women as a risk factor for low birth weight.

UNLABELLED: Starting in the 1990s, several authors sought to investigate the hypothesis that periodontitis during pregnancy may contribute towards the birth of low-weight children. However, this relationship is still not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this oral infection is associated with this gestational event. METHODS: This was a case-control study among 548 puerperae, of whom 164 were the mothers of low-weight live births (case group) and 384 were the mothers of live births of normal gestational weight (control group). They were selected at two public hospital units in two municipalities in the State of Bahia. From interviews and data gathered using live birth cards or birth certificates, information was obtained regarding age, height, previous diseases, marital status, socioeconomic situation, smoking and alcohol use. Mothers who presented at least four teeth on which one or more sites had a probing depth of greater than or equal to 4 mm, clinical attachment loss of greater than or equal to 3 mm and bleeding on probing, at the same site, were deemed to present periodontal disease. The data were analysed by stratification from logistic regression. RESULTS: Periodontal disease was diagnosed in 42.7% of the case group and 30% of the control group. A statistically significant association was found between periodontal disease and low birth weight (unadjusted OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.19-2.54), particularly among mothers with low schooling levels (adjusted OR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.14-4.6). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest an association between periodontal disease and low birth weight among mothers with low education levels.

The association between postmenopausal osteoporosis and periodontal disease.

BACKGROUND: The clinical importance of systemic bone loss as a contributory factor to alveolar bone loss and the subsequent loss of teeth merits further study, given that osteoporosis and periodontal disease lead to significantly increased morbidity and mortality and higher public expenditure of funds. This case-control study evaluated the association between osteoporosis and periodontal disease. METHODS: The sample consisted of 139 postmenopausal women: 48 in the case group (with periodontal disease) and 91 in the control group (without periodontal disease). The diagnosis of periodontal disease was established following a complete clinical examination using measurements of probing depth, gingival recession and hyperplasia, clinical attachment loss, and bleeding index, and confirmed by panoramic radiography. The diagnosis of osteoporosis was made by reviewing densitometry reports obtained previously. Descriptive, stratified, and logistic regression analyses were applied to the data collected. Comparison of proportions was performed using the chi(2) and Fisher tests. Association measurements (odds ratios [ORs]) with and without adjustment for confounding factors and control for effect modifiers were obtained at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The OR(unadjusted) for the principal association was 2.58 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01 to 6.82). In subgroup analyses of the stratified model, the OR(unadjusted) for low education was 6.40 (95% CI: 1.77 to 23.18). When adjusted for smoking habit and age, the OR(adjusted) was 7.05 (95% CI: 1.90 to 26.19), which also was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and low educational levels have a greater chance of having periodontal disease than do those without osteoporosis.