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American Journal of Epidemiology Advance Access originally published online on January 8, 2009
American Journal of Epidemiology 2009 169(6):731-739; doi:10.1093/aje/kwn399
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American Journal of Epidemiology © The Author 2009. Published by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Is Maternal Periodontal Disease a Risk Factor for Preterm Delivery?

Vitool Lohsoonthorn, Kajorn Kungsadalpipob, Prohpring Chanchareonsook, Sompop Limpongsanurak, Ornanong Vanichjakvong, Sanutm Sutdhibhisal, Nopmanee Wongkittikraiwan, Chulamanee Sookprome, Wiboon Kamolpornwijit, Surasak Jantarasaengaram, Saknan Manotaya, Vatcharapong Siwawej, William E. Barlow, Annette L. Fitzpatrick and Michelle A. Williams

Correspondence to Dr. Vitool Lohsoonthorn, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, 1873 Rama 4 Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand (e-mail: vitool{at}gmail.com).

Received for publication September 1, 2008. Accepted for publication December 1, 2008.

Several studies have suggested an association between maternal periodontal disease and preterm delivery, but this has not been a consistent finding. In 2006–2007, the authors examined the relation between maternal periodontal disease and preterm delivery among 467 pregnant Thai women who delivered a preterm singleton infant (<37 weeks’ gestation) and 467 controls who delivered a singleton infant at term (≥37 weeks’ gestation). Periodontal examinations were performed within 48 hours after delivery. Participants’ periodontal health status was classified into 4 categories according to the extent and severity of periodontal disease. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Preterm delivery cases and controls were similar with regard to mean probing depth, mean clinical attachment loss, and mean percentage of sites exhibiting bleeding on probing. After controlling for known confounders, the authors found that severe clinical periodontal disease was not associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery (odds ratio = 1.20, 95% confidence interval: 0.67, 2.16). In addition, there was no evidence of a linear increase in risk of preterm delivery or its subtypes associated with increasing severity of periodontal disease (Ptrend > 0.05). The results of this case-control study do not provide convincing evidence that periodontal disease is associated with preterm delivery or its subtypes among Thai women.

periodontal diseases; premature birth

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio


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