A prospective study on maternal periodontal diseases and neonatal adverse outcomes

Abstract

Objective: It is evident that periodontitis is linked to various adverse pregnancy outcomes. This prospective study explored the potential link of maternal periodontal diseases to neonatal adverse outcomes. Materials and Methods: A total of 193 generally healthy females in their third trimester (34–36 weeks) of pregnancy were enrolled. All subjects received full-mouth periodontal assessment, and the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) was calculated. Demographic data, lifestyles and anthropomet-ric measurements of the neonates (e.g., body length and head circumference) were recorded. Herein, small-for-gestational age (SGA) referred to gender-and age-adjusted birth weight below the 10th percen-tile in line with the standard reference. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline were performed for examining the association of periodontal parameters with SGA. Results: There were 8.3% (16/193) of neonates with SGA. Significantly positive correlation existed between the percentage of tooth sites with increased probing depth and an elevated risk of SGA (OR: 1.052; P < 0.05). Yet, the PISA was positively associated with the risk of SGA (OR: 1.002; P < 0.05) as well. No significant link occurred between maternal periodontal status and other neonatal outcome measures. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the findings suggest that there could be a link between maternal periodontal diseases and neonatal adverse outcomes like SGA. Further investigation is required to clarify the current findings and potential implications for promoting maternal oral/periodontal health and newborn health.