Is periodontal disease a risk factor for gestational diabetes?

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10212
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Hino Satoshi 愛媛大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (90359927)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 内田 大亮 愛媛大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (20335798)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 歯性感染症 / 歯周病 / 妊娠糖尿病 / 口腔ケア / 口腔細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although the concept of disease prevention has long been ingrained in dental practice, the number of patients with periodontal disease is still increasing in all age groups, and the number of patients with dental caries after middle age is also increasing. Pregnancy is the time of greatest health consciousness, and it is also the time when human (newborn) teeth are being formed. After birth, the human oral microflora is transferred and formed mainly through skin contact with the mother, so a good maternal oral environment is extremely important not only during pregnancy but also after delivery. In this study, we aimed to understand the oral environment of pregnant women and analyze the association between gestational diabetes and periodontal disease, which is a risk factor for perinatal complications, from a bacteriological perspective.

Free Research Field

口腔外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

口腔の2大疾患、う蝕と歯周病はいずれも細菌感染症である。それらの罹患予防には確立された方法があるにもかかわらず、今なお多くの人々が歯を失う原因であり続け、種々の全身疾患の増悪因子や原因にもなっている。う蝕や歯周病を予防・治療して歯を大事にし、全身の健康に資するというマインドを国民の間に広く醸成するため、まずは妊婦を対象に周産期合併症のリスクを軽減し、児に良好な口腔環境を授け、健康な口腔を育むよう指導することは意義深い。