Women Don't Get Proper Dental Care During Pregnancy

Women may not receive dental care before or during pregnancy, and many factors are at play, says a Florida study.

The study included 253 African American women between the ages of 18 and 35. They were surveyed within one month of giving birth.

Researchers asked about dental visits before and during pregnancy. They also asked about any guidance the women received on dental care during their prenatal visits.

Most women did not visit a dentist while pregnant. There were several reasons:

Lack of insurance
Difficulty finding a dentist
Low priority on dental care
Misconceptions about whether dental care during pregnancy was safe

Few women remembered receiving advice on dental care during prenatal visits.

Poor oral health particularly periodontal (gum) disease has been linked with pregnancy problems. In addition, mothers who have poor oral hygiene and a personal history of multiple teeth with cavities can pass decay-causing bacteria on to their young children. This increases the children's risk that their children will experience tooth decay.

Routine dental care is generally regarded as safe during pregnancy. Pregnant women who need urgent care also should visit a dentist. Examples of urgent care include treatment for a tooth infection or toothache.

A long-term German study found lower rates of tooth decay in the children of women who had preventive dental care while pregnant. These lower rates lasted into the children's teen years.

The Florida authors suggest more attention be paid to educating women about oral health and dental care during pregnancy. They said barriers to dental care for pregnant women also need to be addressed.

The Florida study is in the December issue of the journal Birth.

By Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News

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