ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the possible association between mother's periodontal status and preterm low birth weight (PLBW) in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The periodontal status of 83 women who bore a preterm low birth weight infant (PLBW group) and 44 women who bore a normal birth weight infant (NBW group) within two years in four hospitals in Beijing were evaluated. These women were all generally healthy. The clinical periodontal parameters including plaque index (PLI), probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL) and bleeding index (BI) recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentages of PD > or = 4 mm sites, AL > or = 2 mm sites and BOP(+) sites in two groups were 8.1% vs 6.9%, 12.8% vs 6.1% and 70.4% vs 66.9%, respectively, which showed significantly higher in PLBW group than in NBW group(P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There was possible association between mother's periodontal status and preterm low birth weight in the investigated area. Poor periodontal status may be one of the risk factors of PLBW.</p>