Premature Births Related to Periodontal Disease
Can you imagine the how stressful it must be to have a preterm baby? This could mean a lifetime of health and learning problems for the child. Can you believe that having gum disease while pregnant may cause preterm births? In fact, having gum disease while pregnant may double your risk of having a preterm low birth weight baby.
Studies from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) have shown that having periodontal disease can increase your chances of premature birth by a significant margin. The ratio of premature births from women with periodontal disease to women without are 7.9% to 4.1% respectively. Periodontal disease seems to be as strong a risk factor for preterm birth as smoking is. It is very important to get your teeth checked when you are pregnant so that you can determine your risk. Long Island Periodontist Dr. David Scharf is frequently asked to examine women before and during pregnancy. The sooner you make an appointment, the quicker you will be on the road to a safer birth. When you see the periodontist it is important to let your periodontist know what you have observed on your own. Once the periodontist has prescribed a treatment it is important that you follow through with all recommendations so that you will enjoy the benefits of treatment. People have been known to avoid the because they are concerned that they will need surgery. These days, a laser can be used in place of gum surgery. Many people are choosing this conservative option
On a positive note all women have until their third trimester to treat the periodontal disease in order to reverse any damage already incurred. Once treated the risk of premature birth drops to 7.5% or below. This brings you down to a normal risk of premature birth like someone who never had Periodontal disease to begin with.
For more information on gum disease treatment on Long Island visit Dr. Scharf on the web.
