Dentists ‘Need to Improve Their Knowledge of Pregnant Women’, Experts Say
Dentistry
A new study, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, found that pregnant women who received preventive oral health care or visited a dentist or a dental clinic for oral health problems during pregnancy had a lower risk of developing gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders.
‘Our findings reinforce the connection between oral health and overall health,’ said Dr Simona Surdu, project director at the Center for Health Workforce Studies.
‘Integrating oral health education and services into maternal health care and expanding the oral health workforce through training, better distribution and inter-professional collaboration with prenatal care providers can improve access to oral health services for pregnant women – especially in underserved populations – and help reduce the risks of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders.’