Oral health care during pregnancy: current status and future perspectives / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Mounting evidence indicates that oral health during pregnancy is associated with pregnancy outcomes and the oral health of the offspring. Pregnant women in China have a high prevalence of oral diseases, low attendance to oral health care, and an increased burden of untreated oral infectious diseases such as periodontitis and caries. A joint perinatal oral health program between obstetrics and stomatology may improve pregnant women's and their children's oral health outcomes. This paper briefly summarizes the current status of oral health care for pregnant women and the clinical practice in obstetrics and gynecology related to stomatology in China. It provides future perspectives on the potential role of obstetricians and gynecologists in promoting oral health care through developing an interdisciplinary care model.