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Dental care during pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey of adolescents and young adults

Laxer, Kaitlin
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1624975064167905

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Dentistry.
Purpose: We know little about what adolescents, pregnant or not, think about oral health care. We know little about barriers that pregnant adolescents face with oral health care. Our purpose was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and current practices regarding dental care and oral health in pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents and young adults as well as barriers to care during pregnancy. Methods: Between November 2020 and March 2021, surveys were distributed to pregnant patients in a teen pregnancy clinic and males and females in a primary care clinic. The 18-question survey asked about personal dental health and dental care during pregnancy. Analysis was done using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, with statistical significance at p<0.05. Results: There were 215 total respondents; 196 were female, and 31% were pregnant. Almost half were Black or African-American, 70% had Medicaid or public insurance, and 75% went to the dentist annually or twice annually for check-ups. Only 1% indicated that pregnant females should never go to the dentist. The majority of pregnant respondents had not been to the dentist while pregnant, and less than 5% had been in the six months prior to pregnancy. Conclusions: Dental care during pregnancy is underutilized, consistent with other studies. Reported barriers to dental care were providers’ refusal of treatment due to respondent’s pregnancy status, low priority, safety concerns, lack of time, and finances. Results suggest the need for improved knowledge for not just pregnant females to know that it is safe to get dental care, but for healthcare providers as well so pregnant women are not refused care.
Kim Hammersmith (Advisor)
Homa Amini (Committee Member)
Paul Casamassimo (Committee Member)
44 p.
Dental Care; Dentistry
Teen pregnancy; dentistry; oral health and pregnancy; adolescence and dentistry; barriers to dental care

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Laxer, K. (2021). Dental care during pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey of adolescents and young adults [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1624975064167905

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Laxer, Kaitlin. Dental care during pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey of adolescents and young adults. 2021. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1624975064167905.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Laxer, Kaitlin. "Dental care during pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey of adolescents and young adults." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1624975064167905

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1624975064167905
219
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.