Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Dental Care During Pregnancy: A systematic review

Pregnant women have special oral health needs due to hormonal fluctuations (estrogen and progesterone), which have a strong influence on the oral cavity. Maintenance of oral health during pregnancy has been recognized as an important public health issue worldwide. Because oral health is an integral part of overall health, oral problems encountered in the pregnant patient must be promptly and properly addressed. Several national health organizations have issued statements in recent years calling for improved oral health care during pregnancy. Some studies have explored the health-related quality during pregnancy and birth outcomes. They have reported that higher levels of oral disease may affect the OHRQoL of a pregnant mother and also her OHRQoL. Evaluations of OHRQoL may result in a shift from traditional medical and dental clinical care to care that also includes evaluation and emphasis on a person’s social and emotional experience and physical performance in order to establish suitable treatment goals and outcomes. This systematic review was conducted to assess oral health-related quality of life and dental care among pregnant woman. Results from this review support the need for behavioral interventions for improving oral hygiene in expectant mothers. This could help to improve their oral and general life quality.

Keywords:

Oral health-related quality of life , Dental care , Pregnancy , Oral health , Oral hygiene