Oral health in women with or without pregnancy complications

Objectives: Several studies have shown an association between periodontal disease and pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and preterm low birth weight. However, only a few studies have been conducted among low risk population such as white educated women. Our hypothesis was that there are differences in oral health also of white educated women with or without pregnancy complications. Methods: Within 2 days postpartum, 349 mothers aged 18-44 years (mean age 31.2 „b 5 years), who delivered 369 babies, were examined clinically with saliva sampling in the Women's Hospital of Helsinki University Central Hospital. Of the women, 69.3% were highly educated and only 6.0 % did not have professional education. Results: Among the 349 mothers 124 (35.5%) did have pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery and/or low birth weight baby. 55.4% of controls and 47.2% of cases had visited a dentist 6 months before delivery and only 5.0% of controls and 13.0% of cases did so more than two years ago (p<0.05). Stimulated salivary flow was better in controls than in cases (1.1+-0.5ml/min vs. 0.9+-0.5ml/min; p<0.05), and there were less Streptococcus mutans- free controls than cases (28.1% vs. 44.4%; p<0.05). Signs of bruxism were more common in cases than controls (31.5% vs. 13.8%; p<0.001). Conclusion: The results partly confirmed our hypothesis by showing lower stimulated salivary flow rates in case mothers which might indicate their worse general condition. The cases had also been more reluctant to seek dental health. Frequently observed signs of bruxism might indicate higher stress among the cases. Supported by grant TYH 3245 of the Helsinki University Central Hospital.