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<p>Periodontal medicine, part I: periodontal disease as a risk factor in pre-term low birth weight babies<br><br>LCDR Walter D. Brafford, DC, USN and CDR Joseph C. Yang, DC, USN<br><br>Introduction<br>While infant mortality rates have declined in past years, the incidence of low birth weight and preterm infants has increased to over 500,000 newborns per year and remains a significant cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Approximately 60% of infant mortalities with no associated congenital defects are directly attributable to Preterm Low Birth Weight (PLBW), which is defined as infants &lt;5.5 lbs. or &lt;37 week gestation. Factors which have a positive correlation with an increased risk of PLBW include: mother’s age (&lt;17 or &gt; 34), socioeconomic status, bacterial vaginosis, inadequate prenatal care, drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, malnutrition, diabetes, high blood pressure, multiple pregnancies, and systemic maternal infections, which includes periodontal disease. The purpose of this clinical update is to review the relationship between periodontal disease and PLBW.
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<br>Subjects: pediatrics ; periodontal diseases ; Infant Mortality</div>
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U.S. Navy. Naval Postgraduate Dental School</div>
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