Perio-Preterm Low Birth Weight
For a long time, Houston dentists have known that risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and drug use contribute to the premature birth of infants with a low birth weight. New evidence is appearing that suggests a new risk factor – gum disease.
Pregnant women with periodontal disease could be as much as seven times more likely to give birth to a baby that is born too early and too small. It is important for us to answer a few questions in regards to what causes this.
At what stage does periodontal disease have this effect?
Periodontal disease is long-term, chronic infection of the gums. Pregnancy will not cause periodontal disease. Most pregnant women have experienced gum disease a long time before conception. That is why it is so important to get a dental examination before getting pregnant.
This is the one way to ensure that you will have a healthy baby. While pregnancy does not call Periodontitis, it can cause pregnancy gingivitis to develop. This is caused by the elevated hormone levels of pregnancy, and it can occur in women with healthy mouths.
How can pregnant women reduce these risks?
It is also important that every pregnant woman have her teeth cleaned at least 2 to 3 times during her term. This helps ensure the delivery of a full term, healthy baby. More research is required to confirm just how periodontal disease affects pregnancy outcomes.
It appears that gum disease triggers increased levels of biological fluids that induce labor. In addition to this, data indicates that women whose periodontal condition worsens during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature delivery.
All infections are grounds for concern among pregnant women because they can affect the health of the baby. The Academy of Periodontology recommends that women considering pregnancy have a periodontal evaluation.
What specific things does The Houston Medical Center Dental Group do for pregnant women during the course of such evaluation?
We perform a comprehensive dental exam. This includes all the necessary x-rays, digital photos, oral cancer screen, periodontal screening, a head and neck exam and an evaluation for their teeth.
If you discover a mild case of periodontal disease, how do you treat it?
In most cases, we can treat mild cases of periodontal disease with scaling and root planning. This is done over a course of 3 to 4 appointments. The hygienist is an expert at this treatment.
How do you treat a severe case of periodontal disease?
We use LANAP. We have found that Laser Periodontal Therapy is far more effective than traditional periodontal surgery because it poses less risk of infection and facilitates faster healing rates.
At what point do you have to involve an MD?
If necessary, we will involve the MD if the patient has a severe periodontal problem while the mother is pregnant. We will also consult them before and during treatment.
Pregnant women with periodontal disease could be as much as seven times more likely to give birth to a baby that is born too early and too small. It is important for us to answer a few questions in regards to what causes this.
At what stage does periodontal disease have this effect?
Periodontal disease is long-term, chronic infection of the gums. Pregnancy will not cause periodontal disease. Most pregnant women have experienced gum disease a long time before conception. That is why it is so important to get a dental examination before getting pregnant.
This is the one way to ensure that you will have a healthy baby. While pregnancy does not call Periodontitis, it can cause pregnancy gingivitis to develop. This is caused by the elevated hormone levels of pregnancy, and it can occur in women with healthy mouths.
How can pregnant women reduce these risks?
It is also important that every pregnant woman have her teeth cleaned at least 2 to 3 times during her term. This helps ensure the delivery of a full term, healthy baby. More research is required to confirm just how periodontal disease affects pregnancy outcomes.
It appears that gum disease triggers increased levels of biological fluids that induce labor. In addition to this, data indicates that women whose periodontal condition worsens during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature delivery.
All infections are grounds for concern among pregnant women because they can affect the health of the baby. The Academy of Periodontology recommends that women considering pregnancy have a periodontal evaluation.
What specific things does The Houston Medical Center Dental Group do for pregnant women during the course of such evaluation?
We perform a comprehensive dental exam. This includes all the necessary x-rays, digital photos, oral cancer screen, periodontal screening, a head and neck exam and an evaluation for their teeth.
If you discover a mild case of periodontal disease, how do you treat it?
In most cases, we can treat mild cases of periodontal disease with scaling and root planning. This is done over a course of 3 to 4 appointments. The hygienist is an expert at this treatment.
How do you treat a severe case of periodontal disease?
We use LANAP. We have found that Laser Periodontal Therapy is far more effective than traditional periodontal surgery because it poses less risk of infection and facilitates faster healing rates.
At what point do you have to involve an MD?
If necessary, we will involve the MD if the patient has a severe periodontal problem while the mother is pregnant. We will also consult them before and during treatment.
Labels: laser periodontal therapy, perio-preterm low birth rate, periodontal disease
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