BACKGROUND: Little is known about the use of dental services during pregnancy. Yet research suggests that a pregnant woman's oral health and her pregnancy outcome may be associated. METHODS: Four states collected oral health data a part of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, or PRAMS, in 1998. PRAMS is an ongoing, population-based survey designed to obtain information from mothers who recently delivered live-born infants about their experiences and behaviors before, during and immediately after pregnancy. RESULTS: Reports of dental care use during pregnancy ranged from 22.7 to 34.7 percent. In three states, 12.2 percent to 25.4 percent of respondents reported having a dental problem and of these, 44.7 percent to 54.9 percent went for care. Among mothers reporting a dental problem, prenatal care, or PNC, insurance through public funding and late PNC entry were significantly associated with their not getting dental care. CONCLUSIONS: Most mothers did not go for dental care during their pregnancy; among those who reported having problems, one-half did not get dental care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Attention toward the oral health needs of pregnant women is warranted. A coordinated effort from the dental and obstetric communities to establish guidelines could benefit maternal oral health and perinatal outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the use of dental services during pregnancy. Yet research suggests that a pregnant woman's oral health and her pregnancy outcome may be associated. METHODS: Four states collected oral health data a part of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, or PRAMS, in 1998. PRAMS is an ongoing, population-based survey designed to obtain information from mothers who recently delivered live-born infants about their experiences and behaviors before, during and immediately after pregnancy. RESULTS: Reports of dental care use during pregnancy ranged from 22.7 to 34.7 percent. In three states, 12.2 percent to 25.4 percent of respondents reported having a dental problem and of these, 44.7 percent to 54.9 percent went for care. Among mothers reporting a dental problem, prenatal care, or PNC, insurance through public funding and late PNC entry were significantly associated with their not getting dental care. CONCLUSIONS: Most mothers did not go for dental care during their pregnancy; among those who reported having problems, one-half did not get dental care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Attention toward the oral health needs of pregnant women is warranted. A coordinated effort from the dental and obstetric communities to establish guidelines could benefit maternal oral health and perinatal outcomes.
Authors: Kristen S Marchi; Susan A Fisher-Owens; Jane A Weintraub; Zhiwei Yu; Paula A Braveman Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2010 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Marushka L Silveira; Brian W Whitcomb; Penelope Pekow; Elena T Carbone; Lisa Chasan-Taber Journal: J Public Health Dent Date: 2015-08-13 Impact factor: 1.821
Authors: Margaret N Wandera; Ingunn M Engebretsen; Charles M Rwenyonyi; James Tumwine; Anne N Astrøm Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2009-10-14 Impact factor: 3.186