Abstract

MONTEGRO, Gracy  and  ESCALONA, LA. Periodontal disease and Pre-term birth: A pilot study in a Venezuelan maternity. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2009, vol.47, n.3, pp.53-68. ISSN 0001-6365.

Objective: Determine periodontal status in a Venezuelan population of women with pre-term birth compared with women who delivered at term. Material and Methods: Periodontal status of 26 women with pre-term birth (PTB) (before week 37) and 27 women with term labour (TL) (between weeks 38 and 40) was analyzed within 48h after delivery. Periodontal measurements using Ramfjord teeth included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Other factors were also considered: Age, social economic level, education level, marital status, habits and diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. Results: The results found were similar for all the women examined regarding the co-variants: socio-economic status, education level, marital status and there was no co-relation with the presence of PTB. 50% of the group with PTB had a previous history of PTB or spontaneous abortion (p<0.001). Statistically significant differences in PI, GI and PPD values were not found. In the PTB group the CAL index was higher than in the group with TL (p<0.05).There was found. PI was significantly associated with education level (p<0,05). Conclusion:  In the present investigation was found a statistically significant difference between the evaluated groups for the clinical attachment level (CAL), but there was not found any association between severity of periodontal parameters and the occurrence of preterm labor.

Keywords : preterm birth; pregnancy; periodontal disease.