IADR Abstract Archives
Discussion About Oral-Health During Medical Monitoring of Pregnancy in France
Objectives: The preventive maternity oral health check-up is a French scheme that is entirely free of charge for pregnant patients between the 4th month of pregnancy and the 6th month after giving birth. Preventive dental care is crucial during pregnancy. The aim was to conduct an epidemiological study to assess the use of preventive maternity oral health check-up and the factors that might influence this use, thanks to discussions with the perinatal care professional in charge of medical monitoring of pregnancy.
Methods: An anonymous electronic questionnaire dealing with oral health and prevention was proposed to 257 pregnant women in the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice or midwifery practices. The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Cote d'Azur University. A logistic regression was conducted.
Results: Only 37.2% of pregnant women actually used the preventive maternity oral health check-up. Univariate analyses showed that patients who had discussed their oral health with their perinatal care professional, consulted their dentist significantly more often during pregnancy than those who had never discussed this issue during a prenatal consultation (p<0.001). Patients who were used to visit their dentist regularly before pregnancy, for dental care or regular check-ups made greater use of the preventive maternity oral health check-up (p<0.001). Logistic regression revealed that oral health was significantly more frequently discussed during pregnancy follow-up for patients who were used to visit their dental practitioner once a year or more (p<0.001).
Conclusions: A lack of take-up of the free preventive prenatal oral health check-up has been noted. It seems that the perinatal care professional in charge of medical monitoring of pregnancy does not spontaneously address the patient’s oral health. There is a need for oral health acculturation among gynecologists and midwives.
Methods: An anonymous electronic questionnaire dealing with oral health and prevention was proposed to 257 pregnant women in the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice or midwifery practices. The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Cote d'Azur University. A logistic regression was conducted.
Results: Only 37.2% of pregnant women actually used the preventive maternity oral health check-up. Univariate analyses showed that patients who had discussed their oral health with their perinatal care professional, consulted their dentist significantly more often during pregnancy than those who had never discussed this issue during a prenatal consultation (p<0.001). Patients who were used to visit their dentist regularly before pregnancy, for dental care or regular check-ups made greater use of the preventive maternity oral health check-up (p<0.001). Logistic regression revealed that oral health was significantly more frequently discussed during pregnancy follow-up for patients who were used to visit their dental practitioner once a year or more (p<0.001).
Conclusions: A lack of take-up of the free preventive prenatal oral health check-up has been noted. It seems that the perinatal care professional in charge of medical monitoring of pregnancy does not spontaneously address the patient’s oral health. There is a need for oral health acculturation among gynecologists and midwives.