The need for better studies to assess the safety of providing dental care for medically complex patients

Background. Although clinicians generally con' sider it safe to provide dental care far pregnant women, supporting clinical trial evidence is lacking. This study compares safety outcomes from a trial in which pregnant women received scaling and root planing and other dental treatments. Methods. The authnra randomly nssij-iiHi 823 woi to receive HCling and nmt planing either at 13 to 21 to three months after delivery They evaluated all sui dental treatment (EDT) needs, defined as the present severe caries or fractured Or ulwcjcKSL'd teeth; 3(51 will EDT at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation. The authors used I propensity-score adjustment to compare rales ofserii spontaneous abortions/stillbirths, fetal/congenital and tal Association (JADA) in 2008, examined the safety of periodontal treatment and dental care in a population of medically complex patients- pregnant women. The investigators used data collected from a large randomized controlled trial that showed that periodontal treatment did not reduce the rate of preterm birth.3 In that trial, 823 women having periodontitis were assigned randomly to receive periodontal scaling and root planing, either during pregnancy at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation or after delivery.