dental visits C D A J O U R N A L , V O L 5 0 , Nº 4
C.E. Credit: Part 1 of 3
Dental Care in California During Pregnancy Lynn Walton-Haynes, DDS, MPH; Joanna Aalboe, RDH, MPH; and Jayanth V. Kumar, DDS, MPH
abstract Background: Dental visits during pregnancy can discover and address problems early, helping to prevent complications that can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Dental care during pregnancy is safe and effective in improving and maintaining the oral health of mothers and children and should be accessible and equitable for all pregnant people. Methods: To explore the prevalence of dental visits in California during pregnancy, we used recent data from the Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (MIHA) survey. MIHA is an annual, population-based survey of California-resident people with a live birth. Results: Less than half (43%) of people in California with a live birth received a dental visit during their pregnancy. In California, disparities exist by age, race/ethnicity, geographic region, family income and education level. Conclusion and practical implications: MIHA survey data show that disparities in utilization of dental services during pregnancy exist by age, race/ethnicity, geographic region, family income and educational levels. Dental professionals can work collectively with others to eliminate these disparities and advance oral health equity. Keywords: Pregnancy, dental visit, prevention, oral health equity, oral health disparity, equity
AUTHORS Lynn Walton-Haynes, DDS, MPH, is the dental program consultant, Office of Oral Health, California Department of Public Health. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.
Joanna Aalboe, RDH, MPH, is the health program manager and local programs statewide interventions unit chief, Office of Oral Health, California Department of Public Health. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported. Jayanth V. Kumar, DDS, MPH, is the state dental director, California Department of Public Health. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.
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ental care (preventive, diagnostic and restorative) during pregnancy is safe and effective in improving and maintaining the oral health of mothers and children. Practice guidelines on oral health care during pregnancy underscore this fact.1–5 Addressing manageable problems early helps increase the safety of care by preventing dental disease complications that can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm and lowweight birth, preeclampsia and gestational
diabetes.6,7 In addition, the mother’s oral health is one of the best predictors of their child’s oral health.8 And yet less than half (43.9%) of California people with a live birth received a dental visit during their pregnancy.9 National and state efforts, such as the Maternal and Child Health Bureau-funded Perinatal and Infant Oral Health Quality Improvement (PIOHQI) Initiative, have produced strategies to reduce oral disease in pregnant people and infants at high risk for oral disease by increasing access to and utilization of oral health care.10 California’s APRIL 2 0 2 2
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