Abstract
Objective To determine if antenatal treatment of maternal periodontitis affects early childhood
neurodevelopment.
Study Design We evaluated neurodevelopment of 331 24-month-old children born to women who participated
in a randomized trial of antenatal (167) or postpartum (164) treatment of periodontitis.
Children within groups defined by maternal treatment were designated as high risk
for abnormal neurodevelopment (n = 96; birth at ≤346/7 weeks' gestation or small for gestational age following birth at term) or low risk
(n = 235; appropriate birth weight and ≥37 weeks' gestation). We measured neurodevelopment
using the Bayley Scale of Infant and Toddler Development III (BSID III) and neurological
examination. Treatment effect was analyzed using a chi-square or Fisher exact test.
Between-group mean scores were compared using Student t test.
Results There were no differences in the incidence of neuromotor or sensory (visual or hearing)
impairment or scores on the BSID III between groups. Low-risk children in the antenatal
treatment group had higher language scores than those in the postpartum treatment
group (92.9 versus 89.2; p = 0.05).
Conclusion Antenatal treatment of maternal periodontitis does not appear to affect neurodevelopment
at 24 months of age. The slight improvement in language development in low-risk children
may be an artifact or not clinically relevant.
Keywords
periodontitis - neurodevelopment - neuromotor impairment - sensory impairment
