"Periodontal Disease as a Possible Risk Factor for Complications During Pregnancy and Childbirth

Pregnancy is a physiological state that is part of the reproductive life of women, establishing their fertile age between 15 and 45 years mainly. This stage will not only mark the birth of the baby but also cause various changes both immunological and physiological, to accommodate the growing fetus. Maternal periodontitis has direct and indirect potential to influence the health of the fetus-maternal unit. According to the literature reviewed, the first evidence that oral bacteria influenced pregnancy outcomes was reported by Collins et al. The injection of P. gingivalis into pregnant hamsters caused intrauterine growth retardation and smaller fetuses, together with an increase in the levels of proinflammatory mediators (IL-1b and PGE2) in the amniotic fluid. Two hypotheses have been pointed out regarding the link between oral health and the adverse outcome of pregnancy. The first states that periodontal disease causes abnormal systemic immune changes, leading to complications in pregnancy. While the second hypothesis suggests that oral bacteria directly colonize the placenta, causing localized inflammatory responses, resulting in prematurity and other adverse outcomes.