Periodontitis: a potential risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth.

Maternal infections during pregnancy have been demonstrated to often results in preterm labor, preterm rupture of membranes, and spontaneous preterm birth (SPB), which is usually associated with low birth weights (ie, <2,500 g). Our research focus has been to determine whether periodontal infections can provide sufficient challenge to affect pregnancy--either via disseminating periodontal organisms or bacterial toxins in the blood, or as a consequence of infection-induced hormonal and cytokine abnormalities. We have completed independent case-control studies in humans to examine the relationship between periodontal status and SPB, all of which suggest that the periodontal status is worse in SPB mothers as compared with normal-term delivery controls (> 2,500 g). Additional research is needed to confirm and clarify the relationship between periodontal infection and SPB, but current findings suggest that periodontal disease may be as deleterious to the pregnant mother and developing fetus as smoking or alcohol abuse.