1. Barriers to Dental Care
Dentists, medical clinicians, and patients need to be aware of the importance of oral health and the safety of treatments during pregnancy. Clinicians need to take time during first prenatal visits to ask about oral health, examine the mouth, and refer. Studies show that few medical clinicians advise pregnant patients to see the dentist.
Why Don't Pregnant Women Obtain Dental Care?
Historically, a lack of national prenatal oral health guidelines focusing on this topic
Medical clinicians do not routinely refer patients for dental care
Dentists may be unsure how to manage the pregnant patient
Care may be postponed until after pregnancy
Wide variation in opinion about use of local anesthetics, radiographs, and treatment in pregnancy
Fear of malpractice
Dentists may under-treat pregnant patients for fear of litigation.
Litigation review from 1945 to 2001 showed only one lawsuit which was a coincidental stillbirth. Verdict found in favor of the physicians.
References
Al Habashneh R, Guthmiller JM, Levy S, et al. Factors related to utilization of dental services during pregnancy. J Clin Periodontol. 2005;32(7):815–821.
Lydon-Rochelle MT, Krakowiak P, Hujoel PP, Peters RM. Dental care use and self-reported dental problems in relation to pregnancy. Am J Public Health. 2004;94(5):765–771.
Hilgers KK, Douglass J, Mathieu GP. Adolescent pregnancy: a review of dental treatment guidelines. Pediatr Dent. 2003; 25(5):459–467.
Gaffield, ML, Colley Gilbert BJ, Malvitz DM, Romaguera R. Oral health during pregnancy: An analysis of information collected by the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. JADA. 2001;132(7):
Pistorius J, Kraft J, Willershausen B. Dental treatment concepts for pregnant patients: results of a survey. Eur J Med Res. 2003; 8(6):241–246.
George A, Shamim S, Johnson M, et al. How do dental and prenatal care practitioners perceive dental care during pregnancy? Current evidence and implications. Birth. 2012; 39(3):
Curtis M, Silk HJ, Savageau JA. Prenatal Oral Health Education in U.S. Dental Schools and Obstetrics and Gynecology Residencies. Journal of Dental Education. 2013; 77(11):