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Association between periodontitis, periodontopathogens and preterm birth: is it real?

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To identify the association between periodontitis and periodontal pathogens with preterm birth despite the strict control of some important confounders, such as infectious processes and criteria for diagnosis of periodontitis during pregnancy.

Materials and methods

In this cross-sectional study were included 70 healthy puerperal women between 20 and 35 years without a history of genitourinary infections during pregnancy. Based on the gestational age they were divided into two groups: 45 with term birth (>37 weeks) and 25 with preterm birth (<37 weeks). Previous informed consent, a gynecologic and dental history that included gynecologic and obstetric background, periodontal status applying different authors’ criteria of periodontitis diagnosis, presence of periodontopathogens, dental caries and oral hygiene were recorded.

Results

There was no association between periodontitis, periodontopathogens and preterm birth. There were no statistical differences applying different authors’ criteria diagnosis of periodontitis. Gingivitis status was similar, but probing depth was greater in preterm birth subjects, perhaps they are young women, and this finding could be an early sign of periodontitis. In like manner, the main periodontal bacterial species are not associated with preterm birth, general hygiene and care habits are poorer than term birth subjects.

Conclusion

We could suggest that preterm birth is a multifactorial condition and the role of periodontitis and the periodontopathogens itself is not sufficient to trigger the preterm birth. There are factors such as infectious processes and diagnostic criteria for periodontitis that could be responsible for controversial results.

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Acknowledgments

This investigation was supported by SEP-PROMEP/103.5/11/3671, UASLP-FAI (Grant Numbers: C06-FAI03/5.8, and C06-FAI11-7.44), CONACYT (Grant Number CB-2014-01 242939).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced General Dentistry Program, San Luis Potosi University, Dr. Manuel Nava no. 2, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico

    Rita Elizabeth Martínez-Martínez, Diana Francisca Moreno-Castillo, Juan Pablo Loyola-Rodríguez, Ana Gabriela Sánchez-Medrano, José Honorio Olvera-Delgado & Rubén Abraham Domínguez-Pérez

  2. Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Central Hospital Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto, Faculty of Medicine, San Luis Potosi University, Av. Venustiano Carranza #2395, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico

    Jesús Héctor San Miguel-Hernández

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  1. Rita Elizabeth Martínez-Martínez
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  2. Diana Francisca Moreno-Castillo
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Correspondence to Rita Elizabeth Martínez-Martínez.

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Authors of the present paper do not report conflicts of interest related to this study.

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Martínez-Martínez, R.E., Moreno-Castillo, D.F., Loyola-Rodríguez, J.P. et al. Association between periodontitis, periodontopathogens and preterm birth: is it real?. Arch Gynecol Obstet 294, 47–54 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3945-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3945-1

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