Preliminary results from a UAB study suggest that perhaps the dentist's office should be one of the first stops for pregnant women since researchers have found a strong association between periodontal disease and preterm birth.
An ongoing study by UAB periodontist Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.D.M., and perinatal doctors John Hauth, M.D., and Robert Goldenberg, M.D., is looking at the association. So far, researchers have tracked 800 women and found that 22 percent had advanced periodontal gum disease.
Of the pregnant women with gum disease, the expectant mothers with the most severe periodontal disease were up to 7-9 times more likely to experience a preterm birth compared to pregnant women not suffering from gum disease.
Contact Tracy Bischoff, Media Relations, 205-934-8935 or [email protected].
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