Oral health care during pregnancy among women with and without disabilities

Background: Little is known about oral health among pregnant women with disabilities, a group at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, and how dental health impacts their pregnancy. This study compared oral health and pregnancy outcomes of women with and without disabilities.

Methods: The 2009-2011 Rhode Island Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System is a population-based survey of recently-pregnant women. 

Results: Nearly 7% (6.8%, 95%CI, 5.9-7.8) of women reported a disability. Women with disabilities were less likely to have had their teeth cleaned prior to pregnancy (53.1%, 95%CI 45.8-60.3) or visit a dentist during pregnancy (42.1% 95% CI 35.1-49.6) than women without disabilities (63.4%, 95%CI 61.5-65.2, and 53.3%, 95% CI 51.3-55.2, respectively).  Almost one-quarter of women with disabilities reported having a dental problem during pregnancy (23.6%, 95%CI 17.9-30.5) compared with 16.5% (95%CI 15.0-18.0) of those without disabilities. Overall, women with a dental problem during pregnancy were more likely to have low birthweight (LBW) infants compared with women with no dental problems (8.0%, 95%CI 7.2-8.9 vs.6.6%, 95% CI 6.5-6.8). Women with disabilities were more likely than those without disabilities to have LBW infants (10.6%, 95%CI 9.0-12.4 vs. 6.6%, 95%CI 6.5-6.7); the discrepancy was higher among women with dental problems (14.6%, 95%CI 10.3-20.2, vs7.4%, 95%CI 6.6-8.2).

Conclusion: Women with disabilities are less likely to have preventive dental care and more likely to have dental problems during pregnancy. Poor oral health was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in both groups.  Further research is needed to understand how oral health impacts pregnant women with disabilities.