Doctors Don't Promote Dental Care for Pregnant Women
June 30, 2009

by Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - Doctors know that dental care is important for pregnant women. But many don't encourage them to get it, a study finds.

About 350 doctors were in the study. They were all obstetricians. About 84 of every 100 said that dental care is important for pregnant women. They knew that periodontal disease in pregnant women has been linked with premature birth and low birth weight.

However, most did not usually ask pregnant patients if they had recently been to the dentist. Only about half asked pregnant patients about the health of their teeth and gums.

More than one-third of the doctors did not suggest that pregnant women get dental cleanings. This may be because they think dentists won't see pregnant women. About 3 of 4 doctors said they have had pregnant patients who were denied dental care because of pregnancy.

Dentists recommend continuing regular dental visits and cleanings during pregnancy. Routine dental care is most commonly given during the second trimester. It's avoided during the first trimester and the last six or seven weeks of pregnancy.

Researchers from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists did the study. Results appears in the June issue of the Journal of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine.