Main

Michalowicz BS, Hodges JS et al. N Engl J Med 2006; 355: 1885–1894

The possible effect of periodontal disease on the health of the child is a controversial subject with some studies showing an apparent association and others not. There have also been studies of the effect of maternal periodontal treatment on the health of the child, again with conflicting results. This study is the largest to date of the effect of periodontal intervention, with random allocation of over 800 expectant women to nonsurgical treatment between 13 and 17 weeks of gestation, or no treatment.

Groups were well matched for age, ethnic group, education, obstetric history, general medical history and periodontal status. Dropouts were 1.3%. Treatment improved the periodontal condition significantly in all measured parameters (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in any obstetric outcomes. In the treatment group, 49 of 407 women gave birth preterm (before 37 weeks' gestation), and in the control group, 52 of 405 (NS). Further analyses of subgroups with the most severe periodontal conditions and those with predisposing obstetric conditions gave similar results.