The CDA Foundation in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, District IX, recently completed the publication “Oral Health During Pregnancy and Early Childhood: Evidence-Based Guidelines for Health Professionals” to substantiate the relationship between health and oral health status and promote the importance and safety of dental care during pregnancy.

The complete guidelines — for medical, dental, early childhood and public health providers — and evidence base can be downloaded at cdafoundation.org/guidelines. The guidelines will be printed in their entirety in the June issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association.

In February 2009, an expert panel of medical and dental professionals presented a review of scientific literature and recent research to derive practice guidelines based on evidence and professional consensus. Where possible, the material was adapted, supplemented, updated and rewritten based on the 2006 New York State Department of Health publication, “Oral Health Care During Pregnancy and Early Childhood Practice Guidelines.”

Based on the findings, the expert panel and advisory committee developed the following consensus statement:

“Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, including needed dental radiographs and use of local anesthesia, are highly beneficial and can be undertaken during pregnancy with no additional fetal or maternal risk when compared to the risk of not providing care. Good oral health and control of oral disease protects a woman’s health and quality of life and has the potential to reduce the transmission of pathogenic bacteria from mothers to their children.”

In addition to the guidelines, a supplemental policy brief and patient education materials are also available.

To request a hard copy of the guidelines, please contact rolande.loftus@cda.org.