[Myths, prejudices and reality about dental treatment during pregnancy. A medical opinion]

Ginecol Obstet Mex. 1998 Dec:66:507-11.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

The education and assistance strategies aimed al preserving oral health must play an important role in the overall care of the pregnant woman. It has been demonstrated that there are beliefs and practices in our culture that relegate, odontologic care in this stage, where attitudes and behaviors on the health-disease process are influenced by the prevailing medical culture, which includes the physician's opinion. The objective was To obtain the physician's opinion on the odontologic care during pregnancy. A previously validate survey which included 15 questions, was applied to a randomly selected sample of 700 physicians. Of the 650 surveys analyzed, 57% were applied to general practitioners, 24% to gynecologists and obstetrician, and 19% to other medical specialist regularly consulted by women during their prenatal care. There is low referral of pregnant women to the regularly check their patients teeth of gums 53% physicians said that the odontologist did not need to consult them about dental treatment, while 593 thought otherwise, 362 surveyed practitioners point out the convenience of using the lead apron when taking periapical x-ray. These results point out the importance of establishing a good communication channel between the physician and dentist. It is clear that there is a lack of truth in the oral health specialist's ability to provide treatment to pregnant patients, and that the physician ignores many of the odontological procedures and their low risk.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dental Care*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Oral Health*
  • Pregnancy*