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The University
of Kentucky was funded in 2002 to participate in an NIH/NIDCR
funded, multi-center study of the “Effects of Periodontal
Therapy on Preterm Birth” later termed the Obstetrics and
Periodontal Therapy (OPT) Study (Kentucky PI: John Novak; NIH/NIDCR
DE14338). The overall objectives of this study were to
investigate if the control of oral infection (delivery of
periodontal therapy and treatment of abscessed teeth) during
the second trimester of pregnancy has an impact on the
neurodevelopment of the infant. Control mothers in the
previous study received their periodontal care after delivery.
In this follow-up study, we will evaluate mental, psychomotor
and language development in infants born to OPT women. Our
central hypothesis is that improved maternal periodontal
status early in pregnancy is associated with improved
neurodevelopment in infants. Infants will be assessed for
pyschomotor, mental, behavioral and language development at 24
and 36 months of age. Motor and mental development will be
assessed at 24 months using the 3rd version of the Bayley’s
Scales of Infant Development (BSID-III), and at 36 months
using the BSID-III and Peabody Developmental Motor Scales.
Language development will be assessed at both time points
using the 4th edition of the Preschool Language Scale (PLS4)
and the language domain of the BSID-III. The primary outcomes
for this follow-up study will be the psychomotor development (PDI)
and mental development (MDI) scores from the BSID-III.
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