VIEIRA, Denise Regina Pontes et al. Association between periodontal disease in pregnancy and preterm birth low birth weight. Odontol. Clín.-Cient. (Online) []. 2010, 9, 4, pp. 311-314. ISSN 1677-3888.

The association between periodontal disease and preterm and/or low birth weight has been investigated and that was reflected in the number of studies in the literature. The increment in the number of clinical and epidemiological research is consequence of the association's importance in public health. Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn infants with low birth weight (<2.500). Infections in distant regions of the genitourinary tract, such as periodontal disease may be associated with the occurrence of preterm delivery and low birth weight infants. However, despite the large number of clinical studies addressing this issue, the lack of methodological standards limits the conclusions. What seems to be consensus in the literature is the fact that intervention studies are needed before we can fully accept that periodontal infection is indeed a risk factor for preterm delivery and / or low birth weight. It is also admitted that the fact that periodontal disease has not proven to be a risk factor for obstetric complications do not diminish the importance of maintaining oral health in pregnant women.

: Periodontal disease; Preterm birth; Low birth weight.