Periodontal Infections and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: The Oral Health—Fetal Connection

Abstract

Objective: The increasing awareness of the relationship between maternal oral health and adverse pregnancy outcomes is well documented in the dental literature.The present review aims at summing up the current state of evidence and research on the same and sharing the available literature with the obstetric and other general practitioners so that the patients are diagnosed and treated with an interdisciplinary approach. Materials and methods: A search of the dental literature, including Medline Ò =PubMed through 2009, was conducted focusing on periodontal disease, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth restriction was undertaken, and a hand search of other gray literature and text books was performed. Conclusions: It has been widely reported that pregnant women with periodontitis have more chances of having adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth-weight infants, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, small-for-gestational age infants, and fetal loss. At the same time, there have been sporadic reports that contradict this potential association. Clinicians need to remain abreast with available and emerging information, and exercise prudence while considering the possible adverse pregnancy outcomes from chronic periodontal infections. ( J GYNECOL SURG 27:1)

Perceptions, knowledge, and practices related to oral health in a group of pregnant women: A qualitative study

“…Similar results were found in Saudi Arabia in 2015 (Al‐Swuailem, 2015 ), where 91.1% were unaware of the link between periodontal disease and preterm birth. In India in 2015 (Sajjan et al, 2015 ) and 2013 (Avula et al, 2013 ), 78% did not know that periodontal disease is common during pregnancy, 66% had no knowledge about periodontal disease, and 87.2% had never heard of the link between oral health and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In China in 2015 (Zhong et al, 2015 ), pregnant women were found to be unaware that dental check‐ups (37%) during the second trimester (18%) were preventive measures.…”

“…In Australia in 2013 (George et al, 2013b ), only 10% of women surveyed received information about oral health care during pregnancy through pamphlets, antenatal care and dentists. In contrast, India in 2013 (Avula et al, 2013 ) and Kuwait in 2005 (Honkala & Al‐Ansari, 2005 ) reported that no pregnant women were referred to a dentist or received information about oral health care during pregnancy.…”

Perceptions, knowledge and practices related to oral health in a group of pregnant women: A qualitative study

“…In Australia in 2013 (26), only 10% of the women evaluated received information about oral health care during pregnancy through brochures, prenatal care and dentists. In contrast, India in 2013 (19) and Kuwait in 2005 (27) reported that no pregnant woman was referred to dentistry by gynecologists or received information about oral care during pregnancy.…”

Perinatal Periodontal Disease Reduces Social Behavior in Male Offspring

“…During prolonged periodontal inflammation, periodontal pathogens and related virulence factors not only invade the periodontal tissues but can also disseminate throughout different systemic organs [9]. Thus, important periodontal pathogens have been detected in the placentas of women with preeclampsia [13] and in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with a diagnosis of premature labor [66] or premature labor with intact membranes [14,16]. …”