Program Specialist Department of State Health Services' Oral Health Improvement Program
Participants should be aware of the following financial/non-financial relationships: . Sandy Tesch, RDH, MSHP: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
When it comes to treating the oral health needs of pregnant women it takes teamwork. Both medical and dental teams benefit from working together to coordinate oral health care. Women experience multiple physiological changes during their pregnancy, including changes in the oral health cavity that may adversely affect their oral health. Poor oral health can impact both mother and baby and shouldn’t be delayed until after delivery. Physicians, nurses and other prenatal medical providers are often the first touch point in assessing a pregnant woman’s oral health. They can help identify problems, provide referrals to dentists and reinforce good oral health practices. Prenatal providers need to assess and refer, and dental providers need to receive and treat. We will share lessons learned from our Smiles for Moms and Babies work in Texas and will distribute a provider tool kit and practice guidance to attendees. It includes resources for consumers, available in English and in Spanish, about good oral health during pregnancy and during infancy as well as a dental referral form for pregnant women.
