Investigation on the level of awareness about the correlation between oral health and pregnancy: health education and prevention in the maternal-child context

Abstract

It has been estimated that up to 100% of pregnant women may experience oral health problems. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the correlation between periodontitis and vaginosis, endometriosis, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, low birth weight, and infertility. The aim of this study was to highlight the degree of knowledge of the correlation between the expressed pathologies of healthcare professionals such as general practitioners, gynecologists, obstetricians, dentists, and dental hygienists, with the possibility of proposing preventive interventions. The objective was achieved through the administration of two evaluation questionnaires which confirmed the hypothesis that healthcare workers themselves were not sufficiently informed about the bidirectional relationship between oral pathologies and pregnancy.