
Oral Health Care for Pregnant Women = Early Prevention and Cost Savings
Ensuring that pregnant women have dental care is important because the bacteria that cause tooth decay is often transmitted from moms to babies. Dental disease may also cause complications during pregnancy that are expensive to treat and put babies at risk.
Preventing and treating dental disease in pregnant women can promote healthier pregnancies and lead to better oral health for thousands of children. Results from Washington’s latest 2010 Smile Survey show we need to focus more on prevention- nearly 40% of children in our state start kindergarten having experienced tooth decay. Research shows that for children, early prevention can substantially reduce future dental costs.
What the Legislature can do to increase access for pregnant women:
- Modeled after the nationally recognized Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program:
- Approve a pilot for an enhanced Medicaid dental benefit for pregnant women and people with diabetes (link to diabetes page), that included an enhanced reimbursement rate for dental providers and case management services for pregnant women to address barriers that make it difficult to access care and stress the importance of oral health.
Learn more from our Fact Sheet.
A National Workgroup comprised of oral health and prenatal care representation from over twenty-five national organizations like the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Dental Association has created a consensus statement on how to manage oral health care during pregnancy. This document is helpful for both pregnant women and their health providers.
Oral Health Watch
2 hours ago
#DYK tooth decay is largely preventable? Proven-effective strategies like access to regular dental visits, brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily, and community water fluoridation can help kids and adults avoid the physical discomfort and burdensome cost of cavities. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
2 hours ago
Thank you, Arcora Foundation, Delta Dental of Washington, Seattle Children's, and caring volunteer providers for making the SmileMobile possible. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
3 hours ago
💯 Arcora Foundation. Oral health care needs don't go away just because coverage does. The estimated 250,000 Washingtonians in need of dental care to either pay out of pocket, delay preventive care and/or forego necessary dental treatment, leading to:
🤒 Needless pain and suffering
... 💵 Burdening patients with costly care
🏥 Straining hospital emergency departments and our health care system
💪 Compromising individual and community health
#teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
21 hours ago
Is it important for both parents and kids to have access to preventive oral health care? 💯 Parents who model good oral health habits make it more likely for children to adopt these practices from a young age. This proactive approach can help prevent future dental problems, missed school days due... to pain, and potential long-term health issues. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1 days ago
Is it important for both parents and kids to have access to preventive oral health care? 💯 Parents who model good oral health habits make it more likely for children to adopt these practices from a young age. This proactive approach can help prevent future dental problems, missed school days due... to pain, and potential long-term health issues. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
4 days ago