1. Effect of periodontal disease treatment during pregnancy on preterm birth incidence: a metaanalysis of randomized trials
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Polyzos, Nikolaos P., Polyzos, Ilias P., Mauri, Davide, Tzioras, Spyridon, Tsappi, Maria, Cortinovis, Ivan, and Casazza, Giovanni
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Pregnant women -- Analysis ,Public health -- Analysis ,Pregnancy -- Analysis ,Infants (Premature) -- Analysis ,Antitank weapons -- Analysis ,Clinical trials -- Analysis ,Health - Abstract
To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2008.09.020 Byline: Nikolaos P. Polyzos (a)(c), Ilias P. Polyzos (b)(c), Davide Mauri (c), Spyridon Tzioras (a)(c), Maria Tsappi (c), Ivan Cortinovis (d), Giovanni Casazza (d) Keywords: gingivitis; low birthweight; metaanalysis; periodontitis; pregnancy; preterm birth Abstract: We conducted a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials to determine whether periodontal disease treatment with scaling and/or root planing during pregnancy may reduce preterm birth (PTB) or low birthweight (LBW) infant incidence. Treatment resulted in significantly lower PTB (odds ratio [OR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.86; P = .008) and borderline significantly lower LBW (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.23-1.00; P = .049), whereas no difference was found for spontaneous abortion/stillbirth (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.41-1.31; P = .292). Subgroup analysis suggested significant effect of treatment in the absence of history of PTB or LBW (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.29-0.77; P = .003) and less severe periodontal disease as defined by probing depth (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28-0.87; P = .014) or bleeding on probing site (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.95; P = .04). If ongoing large and well-designed randomized trials support our results, we might need to reassess current practice or at least be cautious prior to rejecting treatment of periodontal disease with scaling and/or root planing during pregnancy. Author Affiliation: (a) Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PanHellenic Association for Continual Medical Research, Athens, Greece (b) Section of Dentistry and Oral Health, PanHellenic Association for Continual Medical Research, Athens, Greece (c) Section of Public Health, PanHellenic Association for Continual Medical Research, Athens, Greece (d) Instituto di Statistica Medica e Biometria, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Article History: Received 3 June 2008; Revised 30 July 2008; Accepted 18 September 2008 Article Note: (footnote) Reprints not available from the authors.
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- 2009