Pregnancy is associated with profound physiological, hormonal and behavioral changes, that can significantly influence oral health. Conditions such as gingivitis, periodontitis, dental caries and pregnancy-associated oral lesions are common during pregnancy, and have been associated with a reduced quality of life in pregnant women. In recent decades, increasing attention has been given to the potential association between maternal oral health – particularly periodontal disease – and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and low-birth weight. This narrative review critically synthesizes peer-reviewed observational studies, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and clinical guidelines to examine oral health during pregnancy. Although periodontal therapy during pregnancy is safe and improves oral health outcomes, evidence of its impact on obstetric outcomes remains inconsistent. These findings support the integration of oral health screening, prevention and referral into routine prenatal care rather than reliance on periodontal treatment alone to modify the pregnancy outcomes.
Radu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.