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The purpose of this article is to review the current literature on the association between maternal periodontal disease and poor pregnancy and neonatal outcomes and outline the role nurses can play in improving the oral health of pregnant women. Maternal periodontal disease is linked to preterm birth, low birthweight, and preterm low birthweight, but treatment of periodontal disease during pregnancy has been shown to be safe and effective. Nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse-midwives are in a position to educate pregnant women on the benefits of good oral health and identify and refer women who are in need of dental care for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SubjectsCases were Jordanian women (n = 115) who delivered babies in Prince Badea Teaching Hospital between September 2004 and May 2005 who had confirmed preeclampsia (blood pressure >/=140/90 mm Hg after 20 weeks of gestation with proteinuria not due to urinary tract infection). Controls were randomly selected (n = 230) from women who delivered on the same day as the cases but did not have preeclampsia or proteinuria. Cases were significantly older (mean age 30.5 years among cases compared to 29.0 among controls; P = .001). Subjects and controls were nonsmokers and non--alcohol drinkers according to self-reports. Most controls were housekeepers, only about one third had an education beyond 12 years, and two thirds were multiparous. In both cases and controls 14% to 18% of the sites had >/=4-mm probing depth. Cases had more decayed surfaces (mean of 2.17) compared to controls (mean 0.97; P = .002).ExposureClinical periodontal disease was the primary exposure. It was measured using an oral examination conducted by a masked examiner. Periodontal status of all teeth was recorded using probing depth, clinical attachment level, and gingival recession. Oral hygiene status was measured using 6 selected teeth and standard indices. No details on examiner calibration are given.Main Outcome MeasurePrimary outcome was preeclampsia. Preeclampsia was defined as having blood pressure >/=140/90 mm Hg after 20 weeks of gestation with proteinuria that is not due to urinary tract infection.Main ResultsAfter controlling for age, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), history of preeclampsia, family history of cardiovascular disease, family history of preeclampsia, twin birth, and gestational age, there were no statistically significant associations between any of the clinical periodontal disease parameters and preeclampsia (ie, Odds Ratio for percentage of sites with >/=4-mm probing depth is 1.0; 95% Confidence Interval = 0.99 to 1.01).ConclusionsThere is no association between clinical periodontal disease parameters and preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]