Savannah Puett1, Montserrat Tellez2, Gentry Byrd3, Jane A Weintraub4, Brittney Ciszek5, Ceib Phillips6, Kim Boggess7, Rocio Quinonez8. 1. Private Practice, Cary, NC, USA. 2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Adams School of Dentistry, Office of Academic Affairs CB#7450, Chapel Hill, USA. 3. Private Practice, Durham, NC, USA. 4. Department of Pediatric and Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Adams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, USA. 5. General Practice Residency, Utah, USA. 6. UNC Adams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, USA. 7. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, USA. 8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Adams School of Dentistry, Office of Academic Affairs CB#7450, Chapel Hill, USA. Rocio_Quinonez@unc.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and timing of dental treatment completion among pregnant and post-partum women served through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Prenatal Oral Health Program (pOHP) dental clinic in the context of North Carolina (NC) dental Medicaid policies. METHODS: We completed a retrospective chart review of pregnant women referred to the program between May 2015 and May 2019. Data were collected from the time of referral until up to 2 years after their estimated due date (EDD). We assessed pre- and post-delivery dental appointment timing and dental treatment completion. RESULTS: The initial study population included 264 pregnant women. Overall, 213 patients (81%) attended at least one appointment, and 32 patients (12%) completed recommended treatments prior to their EDD. Fifty patients (19%) returned after delivery to resume dental care, with only 25 patients (10%) completing their recommended treatment plan. Women re-entered dental care at a median of 67 days (range 5-613 days) after their EDD and completed treatment at a median of 378 days (range 52-730 days) following delivery. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Despite dental clinic referral, most pregnant women do not complete recommended dental treatment before giving birth, and women who resumed dental care after birth demonstrated a lag-time between delivery and care completion. These findings highlight the need for extending post-pregnancy dental care coverage, which is limited under current dental Medicaid policies, posing a major public health issue for new mothers to continue oral health care.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and timing of dental treatment completion among pregnant and post-partum women served through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Prenatal Oral Health Program (pOHP) dental clinic in the context of North Carolina (NC) dental Medicaid policies. METHODS: We completed a retrospective chart review of pregnant women referred to the program between May 2015 and May 2019. Data were collected from the time of referral until up to 2 years after their estimated due date (EDD). We assessed pre- and post-delivery dental appointment timing and dental treatment completion. RESULTS: The initial study population included 264 pregnant women. Overall, 213 patients (81%) attended at least one appointment, and 32 patients (12%) completed recommended treatments prior to their EDD. Fifty patients (19%) returned after delivery to resume dental care, with only 25 patients (10%) completing their recommended treatment plan. Women re-entered dental care at a median of 67 days (range 5-613 days) after their EDD and completed treatment at a median of 378 days (range 52-730 days) following delivery. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Despite dental clinic referral, most pregnant women do not complete recommended dental treatment before giving birth, and women who resumed dental care after birth demonstrated a lag-time between delivery and care completion. These findings highlight the need for extending post-pregnancy dental care coverage, which is limited under current dental Medicaid policies, posing a major public health issue for new mothers to continue oral health care.
Authors: Valerie Robison; Brenda Bauman; Denise V D'Angelo; Lorena Espinoza; Gina Thornton-Evans; Mei Lin Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2021-01-02