Association of Maternal Oral Health Status with Perinatal Health Factors

Objective: Oral health has emerged as a relevant factor in perinatal health. Our objective was twofold: to determine the oral health status for Maryland mothers and explore whether lack of preventive oral health care was associated with perinatal health factors.

Methods: Data were obtained from a stratified random sample of 6,361 mothers who delivered live born infants during the years 2004-2007 and completed the Maryland Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey two to nine months after delivery. Bivariate and descriptive analyses of mothers who reported that they had never had their teeth cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist before pregnancy were calculated using SUDAAN.

Results: Nearly 30% of mothers reported they had no prior tooth cleaning before their most recent pregnancy. Lack of tooth cleaning was most prevalent among mothers who were Hispanic (52.6%) and had no private health insurance prior to pregnancy (49.3%). There was no association observed between lack of tooth cleaning and infant low birth weight (LBW) of most recent pregnancy. However, mothers who reported no tooth cleaning were more likely to report no prenatal care (2.1% vs. 0.8%),that their pregnancy was unintended (48% vs. 37%) and a past history of LBW (16.3% vs. 9.5%) than mothers reporting prior tooth cleaning (p<0.001). Unfortunately, 56% of mothers reported that oral health care was not discussed prenatally.

Conclusion: A substantial number of reproductive aged women have never had preventive oral health care. Oral health needs to be better integrated into the perinatal health policy agenda.