Other
Jenna Freda, DDS
Pediatric dental resident
New York University, New York, NY
New York University College of Dentistry
New York, New York, United States
Jenna Freda, DDS
Pediatric dental resident
New York University, New York, NY
New York University College of Dentistry
New York, New York, United States
Elizabeth Best, MPH
New York University
Cindy Chee, Bachelors
New York University College of Dentistry
Emily Choi, Bachelors
New York University College of Dentistry
Shulamite Huang, PhD
New York University College of Dentistry
Chengwu Yang, MD, MS, PhD
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Stefanie Luise Russell, DDS, MPH, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor
New York University College of Dentistry
New York, New York, United States
Stefanie Luise Russell, DDS, MPH, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor
New York University College of Dentistry
New York, New York, United States
Lauren M. Feldman, DMD, MPH
Postdoctoral Program Director
New York University College of Dentistry
New York, New York, United States
Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate parental reports of their infant/children's oral health and dental attendance among recent mothers who participated in a prenatal oral health program.
Methods: We contacted 190 women who had previously participated in the NYU/Bellevue Prenatal Oral Health Program, an interprofessional perinatal oral health program designed to increase access to dental care and to improve oral health in vulnerable pregnant persons. To be eligible for this study, women must have had at least one dental visit after having a prenatal health screening and had a live birth and were able to read English or Spanish. Participants were asked to complete a short survey via REDCap.
Results: We received 32 complete responses (16% participation) to the survey. Of those who responded, 18.8% of women felt their child’s health was fair or poor and 25% of the children had never seen a dentist.
Conclusions: Despite receiving dental care during pregnancy where they received information on the importance of oral health for themselves and their children, preventive care for the children was underutilized despite fair or poor oral health for a substantial proportion of their children.