
12 Mar 2020
Meta-analysis: Biological mechanisms between periodontal diseases and pregnancy
Category: Reports

12 Mar 2020
Narrative review: Biological mechanisms between periodontal diseases and pregnancy
Category: Reports
Report by Dr Morena Petrini, Dr Mervi Gürsoy, Dr Stefano Gennai and Prof Filippo Graziani
There is still no clear evidence to support the association between maternal periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Contradictory findings been reported and the available literature is too heterogenous to be able to draw solid and definitive conclusions. Studies of adverse pregnancy outcomes and periodontitis indicate that there might be some association. But the strength of this association is extremely limited and for all the research papers that do indicate association, an equal number of studies do not. There is evidence that adverse pregnancy outcomes are correlated with intra-uterine infections and increased local and systemic inflammatory markers, and a double relationship with periodontitis has been hypothesised. Periodontitis is also a chronic inflammation, caused by the persistence of bacterial infection, and is thus a potential source of circulating inflammatory biomarkers which might be related to possible adverse pregnancy outcomes. Further co-ordinated research is very much needed.