A Simple Step Toward Healthier Pregnancies

Poor oral health during pregnancy can spell trouble for both mom and baby. From gingivitis to low birthweight, research shows that maintaining oral health during pregnancy is key to successful outcomes. However, some women, especially those of low socioeconomic status, face barriers to accessing professional dental care. In fact, only 40% to 50% of women receive any type of dental care during their pregnancy.¹

To support the ability of patients to receive regular dental care during pregnancy, in 2018, medical and oral health professionals at New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry and New York City Health + Hospitals/Bellevue created a prenatal oral health program. Patients seen at the Bellevue Hospital prenatal clinic are also given an oral health assessment. Those needing immediate treatment are referred to the clinic at NYU College of Dentistry and all patients receive education about the importance of maintaining oral health during pregnancy and the fact that Medicaid covers dental care in the state of New York.²

A recently published study in the American Journal of Public Health evaluated the success of two interventions used during the dental care referral process.³ The first was scheduling the dental appointment during the prenatal appointment at Bellevue. The second was employing a patient navigator who provided oral health education, reminded patients of upcoming appointments, and reached out post-dental appointment. Patients who scheduled dental appointments at their prenatal visit were 2.6 times more likely to seek professional oral healthcare than those who had no appointment scheduled even if they worked with a patient navigator.

The authors noted that this no-cost strategy, scheduling dental appointments during prenatal visits, is easy to implement and may significantly improve the oral health of pregnant patients. As 75% of pregnant women experience gingivitis and one in four women of childbearing age have an untreated carious lesion, encouraging dental care can make a big difference.^4,5 And once pregnant patients are in the operatory, dental hygienists can assist in making evidence-based oral hygiene recommendations to help keep mothers’ and babies’ oral health on track.

References

1. CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Pregnancy and Oral Health.
2. Harrison R. Scheduling dental care during prenatal visits boosts oral health care during pregnancy. NYU News.
3. Russel SL, Huang SS, Bird C, et al. Strategies to improve dental care utilization during pregnancy for vulnerable urban women: the New York University/Bellevue Oral Health Program experience. Am J Public Health. August 13, 2026:e1-e5.
4. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pregnancy and Oral Health Facts.
5. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. Oral Health Care During Pregnancy and Through the Lifespan.