Am J Public Health. 2011 Jan;101(1):151-6. Epub 2010 Nov 18.

An examination of periodontal treatment, dental care, and pregnancy

outcomes in an insured population in the United States.

Albert DA, Begg MD, Andrews HF, Williams SZ, Ward A, Conicella ML, Rauh V, Thomson JL, Papapanou PN.

Source

Division of Community Health, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, New York, NY 10032, USA.

daa1@columbia.edu

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

We examined whether periodontal treatment or other dental care is associated with adverse birth outcomes

within a medical and dental insurance database.

METHODS:

In a retrospective cohort study, we examined the records of 23,441 women enrolled in a national insurance

plan who delivered live births from singleton pregnancies in the United States between January 1, 2003, and

September 30, 2006, for adverse birth outcomes on the basis of dental treatment received. We compared rates

of low birthweight and preterm birth among 5 groups, specifying the relative timing and type of dental treatment

received. We used logistic regression analysis to compare outcome rates across treatment groups while

adjusting for duration of continuous dental coverage, maternal age, pregnancy complications, neighborhood-

level income, and race/ethnicity.

RESULTS:

Analyses showed that women who received preventive dental care had better birth outcomes than did those

who received no treatment (P < .001). We observed no evidence of increased odds of adverse birth outcomes

from dental or periodontal treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

For women with medical and dental insurance, preventive care is associated with a lower incidence of adverse

birth outcomes.