Salute dentoparodontale in gravidanza. Studio epidemiologico trasversale multicentrico nella donna puerpera al termine del periodo di gravidanza e correlazioni con l'esito della gravidanza

Purpose: To evaluate oral health conditions in postpartum women and the relationship with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Sample population: 750 postpartum women who delivered at the University hospitals of three main Italian cities were interviewed and examined bedside within 5 days from delivery. Data collection concerned pregnancy outcomes; demographical and educational data; systemic health, smoking habits; oral hygiene habits, self-reported oral symptoms; dental, periodontal and oral mucosal conditions. Simple and multiple regression analysis were performed. Results:110 children (14.6%) were born premature, 84 (11.2%) low birth weight and 49 (6.5%) were born premature and with low birth weight. Complexively, adverse outcomes were 230 (30.6%), and controls 520 (69.3%). Cases and controls did not significantly differ in mean age, birthplace, ethnicity, education and smoking habits concerning DMFT or periodontal index. Regression analysis indicated that there were no significant relationships between the presence and severity of oral diseases and conditions and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions and relevance: No association was found between maternal periodontal diseases mother and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, our study population is different from previously reported case-control groups, therefore it is needed to collect more data in order to exclude a possible link between periodontitis and the risk of development of pregnancy complications.