If you’re still hesitant to prioritize dental care for pregnant patients, new data may change your mind. A robust study featured on the cover of the Journal of the American Dental Association makes a clear case: pregnant women who skip preventive dental care face significantly higher odds of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders. And this isn’t marginal—these are measurable, clinically relevant increases tied directly to the lack of oral healthcare. Let’s take a closer look at what this means for you and your patients.
Pregnancy, Periodontitis, and the Systemic Fallout
UAlbany’s Oral Health Workforce Research Center used data from the CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), analyzing responses from over 200,000 women between 2016 and 2020. Among the headline findings:
- Women who didn’t receive preventive dental care during pregnancy had 1.13x higher odds of developing gestational diabetes.
- Those same women had 1.08x higher odds of experiencing hypertensive disorders.
- Delaying treatment for oral problems, even when recognized, bumped hypertensive disorder odds up by 28%.
These odds persist even after controlling for known confounders like BMI, age, insurance status, and preexisting conditions. In short, this is not a fluke or fringe association.
Periodontal Disease Isn’t Just Local
Inflammatory oral diseases—especially gingivitis and periodontitis, which are common in pregnancy—don’t stay confined to the gingiva. We now know periodontal inflammation likely contributes to systemic inflammatory burden, influencing glycemic control and vascular function.
The proposed mechanism? Bacterial translocation and a cytokine storm. Elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in response to periodontal pathogens may worsen insulin resistance or compromise placental perfusion, setting the stage for gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
So when a pregnant patient skips a cleaning or delays treatment of bleeding gums, you’re not just looking at future tooth loss. You may be witnessing the early stages of a pregnancy complication in real time.
Underuse of Dental Care in Pregnancy: Still the Norm
Despite years of professional guidance affirming the safety of dental care during pregnancy, fewer than 40% of pregnant women receive preventive oral care, and less than 12% visit a dentist for problems. Why? A combination of access issues, misinformation, and gaps in provider training.
Patients report difficulty finding providers who accept Medicaid, inconsistent prenatal referrals, and confusion about the safety of dental procedures. Some dentists are still reluctant to treat pregnant patients out of fear, misinformation, or liability concerns. But the data suggest this caution is doing more harm than good.
It’s Time to Rethink Perinatal Protocols
For dentists, especially those in general practice and public health, this research is a call to action. You’re on the front line of maternal health whether you realize it or not.
Here’s how this study should change your practice:
- Incorporate maternal status into your intake process. Ask about pregnancy, educate on the safety and necessity of care, and stress systemic impacts.
- Reach out to OB-GYNs. Collaborate on care plans for shared patients. There’s growing momentum for interprofessional models, and oral health should be a core component.
- Ensure your hygienists and front-desk staff are comfortable talking to pregnant patients. Normalize and promote care during pregnancy.
- If you’re in a public or academic setting, your observations and outcomes matter. Join the data-gathering effort.
From Risk to Routine
This study reinforces what many in dental public health have pushed for decades: oral health is inseparable from overall health, especially in vulnerable periods like pregnancy. A lack of care during this time increases the risk of chronic systemic diseases and obstetric complications. If your practice is still treating pregnancy as a pause point in dental care, it’s time to evolve. The data is here. The outcomes are real. And your role is more important than ever.
Bottom Line: Preventive dental care during pregnancy is critical. Failing to provide or promote it could cost a life.
SOURCES: JADA
