The role of oral and prenatal healthcare providers in the promotion of oral health for pregnant women

BACKGROUND: Hormonal alterations and lowered immunity during pregnancy aggravated by poor oral hygiene increase the risk of pregnant women of developing oral diseases. We conducted this cross-sectional study to examine the role of oral and prenatal health providers in promoting dental care for pregnant women attending primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: An online questionnaire was sent to a random sample of women who attended PHCs in Jeddah, during 2018–2019. From a total of 1350 women who responded to our questionnaire, 515 women reported having a dental visit before pregnancy. These women comprised our study sample. Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression models were conducted to examine associations between oral practices of dental and prenatal health providers (exposures) and women’s utilization of dental care during pregnancy (outcome). Covariates included age, education (< 12 years of education, 12 years of education, and > 12 years of education), family income (≤ 5,000, 5,001–7,000, 7,001–10,000, and > 10,000 Saudi Riyals), health insurance (yes/no), nationality (Saudi Arabian/non-Saudi Arabian), and presence of dental problems, such as toothache, dental caries, gingival inflammation, and the need for dental extractions. RESULTS: Only 30.0% of women were informed by a dentist during their dental visit before pregnancy about the importance of visiting a dentist during pregnancy. About 37.0% of women were asked about oral health, 34.4% were informed about the importance of dental care during pregnancy, and 33.2% had their mouths inspected by prenatal health providers. Women informed by dentists about the importance of dental visits during pregnancy were twice as likely (Odds ratio [OR]: 2.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.63–3.60) to visit a dentist during pregnancy. Women who were referred to dentists, had their mouth inspected, or were advised to visit a dentist during pregnancy by prenatal providers were 4.29 (95% CI: 2.67–6.88), 3.79 (95% CI: 2.47–5.82), and 3.37 (95% CI: 2.16–5.27) times as likely to visit a dentist during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The partaking of oral and prenatal healthcare providers in evidence-based oral health promotion practices, antenatal-dental collaboration, and closing the referral loop increase pregnant women’s access to and utilization of preventive and treatment dental services.