Periodontal disease in pregnant women and its relationship with low birth weight and/or premature birth according to dentists

Abstract

Periodontal disease in pregnancy has been related as a causal factor of premature birth and low birth weight, a theory supported by the scientific community in articles published in international journals. The general objective is to describe the relationship of periodontal disease in pregnant women with low birth weight and/or premature birth according to dental professionals who work in the national health system in 2020. The methodology used was a mixed approach, where Data were obtained from the SIMOW system that establish the number of medical and dental check-ups for pregnant women in 2020. Likewise, qualitative, because the interview instrument was used through digital means to evaluate and analyze the experiences of dentistry professionals. who work in the national health system. Among the most important results, there is the coverage of dental check-ups by 35% compared to the coverage of medical check-ups for pregnant women and the newborn, the dentists interviewed recognize periodontal disease as a risk factor that can lead to premature delivery and low birth weight. Therefore, it is concluded that dental check-ups are important for the prevention of periodontal disease in pregnant women, a risk factor for premature birth and low birth weight.