Pregnancy Dental Attention

OBJECTIVES: Behaviour change programmes (BCPs) for pregnant women are frequently implemented as part of health promotion initiatives. At present, little is known about the types of behaviour change programmes that are being implemented and whether these programmes are designed and delivered in accordance with the principles of high quality maternity care. In this scoping review, we provide an overview of existing interventions related to behaviour change in pregnancy with a particular emphasis on programmes that include empowerment components to promote autonomy and woman-led decision-making...

Background: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a developmental disorder with severe negative lifetime consequences. Although knowledge about the harmfulness of alcohol consumption during pregnancy has spread, the prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is very high. Our study aims at identifying fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)-associated dental anomalies or habits, which need early attention. Methods: Sixty children (30 FAS; 30 controls) were examined prospectively. Swallowing pattern, oral habits, breastfeeding, speech therapy, ergotherapy, physiotherapy, exfoliation of teeth, DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) index, modified DDE (developmental defects of enamel) index and otitis media were recorded...

Objective: Dental caries and hyperglycaemia share common risk factors. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with dental caries in women in the immediate postpartum period. It also verified whether women with hyperglycaemia presented more dental caries than those with normal glycaemia. Material and Methods : This cross - sectional study was performed on 297 women recruited from a teaching hospital in Brazil (from October 2011 to November 2012). Dental caries and oral biofilm were evaluated by oral examination...

PURPOSE: States have enacted an increasing number of policies restricting access to abortion. As a result, some women are unable to obtain an abortion and instead continue their pregnancies. These women may have particular needs that would bring them to the attention of public health programs. METHODS: Pregnant women entering prenatal care completed a self-administered survey and structured interview at four prenatal facilities in Louisiana and Maryland (N = 586)...

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are at risk of oral health problems. This qualitative study aims to understand dental care-seeking behaviours of pregnant women and their oral health-related information acquisition, to identify barriers to and motivators for, dental visits, and further explore their expectations and possible strategies to improve oral health care during pregnancy. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 pregnant women (after 32 gestational weeks) enrolled in the antenatal care programme in a public hospital in Hong Kong...

Vitamin D, traditionally well known for its role in maintaining optimal health through its contribution to calcium metabolism and skeletal health, has received increased attention over the past two decades, with considerable focus being placed on its nonskeletal benefits. This paper is a narrative review of the nonskeletal health benefits of vitamin D, of particular interest to inhabitants of Mediterranean countries, namely, autism, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dental caries, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, respiratory tract infections, all-cause mortality, and pregnancy and birth outcomes, because of the relatively high incidence and/or prevalence of these disorders in this region...

BACKGROUND: ADHD is multifactorial, including both genetic and environmental factors. The safety of amalgam used in dental treatment has been discussed due to its content of mercury and potential risks for negative neurodevelopmental consequences in the offspring. The aim of the study was to investigate possible associations between symptoms related to ADHD in children of three and five years of age and prenatal exposure to mercury from mothers' amalgam fillings. METHODS: Data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) were used...

Oral health in pregnancy is important to the health of the pregnant woman; and good oral health plays a role in the outcome of pregnancy. However, many pregnant women and healthcare providers are either unaware of this or accord this less attention. The study was designed to describe pattern of oral health among a cohort of pregnant women. Seventy-seven pregnant women attending antenatal care at a secondary healthcare facility were evaluated in third trimester following written informed consent. Each participant had a structured data collection form administered and clinical examination conducted...

BACKGROUND: Despite links between poor maternal oral health, adverse pregnancy outcomes and early childhood decay there is limited emphasis on maternal oral health in Australia. To address this, the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Dental Service (MIOH-DS) program was developed in collaboration with the Australian College of Midwives. AIMS: To undertake a process evaluation and explore perceptions of midwives involved in the MIOH-DS program to determine its practicability, acceptability and feasibility if it were to be up-scaled and implemented into clinical practice...

BACKGROUND: Dental decay in early childhood can be prevented by a model based on shared care utilising members of primary care team such as Child and Family Health Nurses (CFHNs) in health promotion and early intervention. The aims of this study were to identify the facilitators and barriers faced by CFHNs in recruiting research participants from disadvantaged backgrounds to a birth cohort study in South Western Sydney, Australia. METHODS: Child and Family Health Nurses recruited mothers-infants dyads ( n  = 1036) at the first post-natal home visit as part of Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids Study, an ongoing birth cohort study in South Western Sydney...

The aim of the study was to assess gender-related preferences in the choice of oral rehabilitation methods. The study involved 225 patients aged 16-75. The analysis included patients survey and the assessment of actual procedures received during one year follow-up. The study revealed women to be more attentive to oral health issues resulting in more regular appointments and better compliance. Dental treatment before planned pregnancy was, however, completed in only half of the patients. When choosing materials and constructions for oral rehabilitation the leading criteria for men were 'quality' and 'safety', while women chose 'esthetics' and 'quality'...

Exposure through human skin from application of skin lightening creams and soaps (SLCS) based on mercury salts has often escaped attention of environmental scientists. The skin absorption of Hg from an adult on a daily basis in this type of exposure, depending on the product used, can be higher than Hg originated from dental amalgam filling, Thimerosal-containing flu vaccine, and fish-methylmercury. Hg from SLCS is retained more in brain of albino than pigmented animals. Therefore, environmental Hg scientists should be aware of this important but often neglected source of low-dose Hg exposure during pregnancy and lactation when measuring adverse health effects on child growth and development...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the practices and attitudes of obstetric providers in the state of Michigan on their approach to perinatal oral health. METHODS: An online survey was distributed using health care provider databases in the state of Michigan. Descriptive statistics were tabulated and Fisher's Exact Test was used for categorical variables. RESULTS: There were 146 respondents, 80 obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) and 66 certified nurse midwife (CNM) providers...

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have discussed health risks in neonates with a low birth weight, few studies have focused on the risks in neonates with a high birth weight. The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in the incidence of dental caries in early childhood are associated with birth weight status. METHODS: A total of 117,175 children born in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan from 1997 to 2007 were included in this study. Medical professionals collected information about birth records, growth and development, parental child-rearing practices and dental health at 3 months, 18 months and 3 years of age...

BACKGROUND: Oral and dental health is one of the most important aspects of public health, which becomes more important during pregnancy. Health education may effectively prevent a considerable percent of oral and dental diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an oral and dental health educational intervention during pregnancy on the beliefs and behaviors of pregnant women on oral and dental health. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: In this randomized-controlled clinical trial, 160 pregnant women were allocated randomly to intervention and control groups (80 in each group)...

BACKGROUND: Cumulative evidence in the dental literature strongly supports the fact that poor oral hygiene practices and inadequate attention toward oral health during pregnancy have an impact on developing the fetus and significant adverse postnatal effects. Available literature suggests that the research is deficit in assessing knowledge and practices related to exposure to radiation, use of medication and safe period for dental treatment during pregnancy. Assessing the knowledge and practices among pregnant women could be a valuable tool for policy makers to improve the oral health...

The problem of identifying potential determinants and predictors of dental caries is of key importance in caries research and it has received considerable attention in the scientific literature. From the methodological side, a broad range of statistical models is currently available to analyze dental caries indices (DMFT, dmfs, etc.). These models have been applied in several studies to investigate the impact of different risk factors on the cumulative severity of dental caries experience. However, in most of the cases (i) these studies focus on a very specific subset of risk factors; and (ii) in the statistical modeling only few candidate models are considered and model selection is at best only marginally addressed...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to study associations between tooth brushing frequency, use of fluoride lozenges and consumption of sugary drinks at 1.5 years of age and having caries experience at 5 years of age. METHODS: This study was based on data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and by the Public Dental Services. A total of 1095 children were followed from pregnancy to the age of 5 years. Questionnaires regarding oral health behavior were completed by the parents at 1...

The purpose of this review is to examine the rapidly expanding literature regarding the effects of prenatal tobacco and postnatal secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure on child health and development. Mechanisms of SHS exposure are reviewed, including critical periods during which exposure to tobacco products appears to be particularly harmful to the developing fetus and child. The biological, biochemical, and neurologic effects of the small fraction of identified components of SHS are described. Research describing these adverse effects of both in utero and childhood exposure is reviewed, including findings from both animal models and humans...

OBJECTIVES: Oral diseases are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The routine utilization of dental care (RUDC) during pregnancy is an effective way to improve pregnant women's oral health, and thus safeguard the health of their babies. As China has one fifth of the world's population, it is especially meaningful to encourage RUDC there. However, the status of RUDC in China and the key underlying factors are largely unknown. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey investigated the current status of RUDC during pregnancy and the key underlying factors in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, eastern China...