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Oral Health Care During Pregnancy: A Safe and Important Part of Prenatal Health Care
"As a practicing OBGYN, I know oral health is important. I see the effects of dental disease and poor oral health in my patients every day."
- Robert Klink, MD, MMM, FACOG, Gloucester, VA
 The American Dental Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agree that routine dental care is safe for pregnant women and an important part of a healthy pregnancy. Providing dental care during pregnancy can reduce the bacteria in a mother's mouth, which can improve her oral health and significantly lower her risk of spreading decay-causing bacteria to her baby. In addition, approximately 25 percent of all pregnant women have periodontal disease, which has been associated, in some studies, with increased likelihood of preterm birth. Successfully managing oral conditions like periodontal disease through routine dental care will benefit the health of pregnant women and their babies, from birth through childhood, by creating healthier mouths and establishing proper oral health habits.
"I frequently treat pregnant women in need of dental care, and I encourage my patients to maintain routine dental visits during pregnancy - they are a safe and critical part of prenatal care."
-Clint Norris, DDS, Richmond, VA
In March 2015, pregnant women in Virginia who are enrolled in Medicaid and FAMIS will be able to access preventive oral health services that can improve their oral health and overall health. Dental and obstetric providers each play critical roles in educating their pregnant patients about the importance and safety of dental care and ensuring they maintain routine visits to dental providers.
Here are some resources about oral health care during pregnancy:
For more information on oral health care during pregnancy, visit our online pregnancy resources and the National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center website.
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Of Interest
Oral Health and Overall Health
Oral health and overall health are fundamentally intertwined. The following links present current information on how oral health is connected to overall health and well-being.
Resource: Bright Futures in Practice: Oral Health - Pocket Guide
 The National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center has released the second edition of the resource "Bright Futures in Practice: Oral Health - Pocket Guide." The guide is designed to be a useful tool for dental and medical professionals to address the oral health needs of pregnant and postpartum women, as well as infants, children and adolescents.
Blog: "Can a visit to the dentist help you fight disease?"
 In a recent blog post, Henry Schein CEO Stanley Bergman discusses recent research that showed periodontal therapy is associated with statistically significant reductions in medical costs and hospitalizations among individuals with various diagnosed health conditions.
Breast Health and the Dental Hygienist: What You Need to Know
 October is breast cancer awareness month. The CE course "Breast Health and the Dental Hygienist: What You Need to Know" provides dental professionals with an in-depth understanding of the diagnosis and treatment procedures for breast cancer, and outlines the oral implications, dental treatment considerations and patient perspective of the dental experience while living with breast cancer. The course is hosted by Hu-Friedy and is available through December 10, 2014.
View more information and instructions for taking the course online
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Survey: Dental Problems Among Safety Net Patients
 The Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) is requesting that dental safety net providers give their dental patients, especially those without dental insurance, a short and simple dental survey to assess how the patients' dental problems affect their quality of life, ability to work, need for emergency care, and more. The survey results will be used to inform the Joint Commission on Health Care about the dental problems that affect the lives of dental safety net patients. Surveys can be collected at dental safety net sites through the end of February, then sent to Tracey van Marcke at the VHCF at 707 East Main Street, Suite 1350, Richmond, VA 23219.
Download a copy of the dental survey (Word document)
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Policy Options for Reducing Early Childhood Tooth Decay
 Low-income children are most likely to experience tooth decay, but they are least likely to get crucial preventive care. The Children's Dental Health Project has released a policy brief offering seven policy options that states can use to reduce tooth decay among preschool-aged children.
View more information and download the policy brief
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