Dental Care Lowers Preterm Birth Risk

(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

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