Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Periodontal and Dental Diseases During Pregnancy Among Obstetricians and Dentists in King Saud University Medical City.

BACKGROUND: Providing effective dental treatment during pregnancy is related to controlling oral diseases and helps maintain a healthy oral cavity. One of the possible treatment options for endodontic disease is to treat the odontogenic infection, maintain a healthy oral environment, and minimize the expected complications that can occur later in pregnancy or during the postpartum period. Sufficient awareness among obstetricians and dentists is essential to delivering appropriate preventive and curative care to pregnant patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding oral health care and providing dental treatment among King Saud University Medical City obstetricians and dentists during pregnancy and the association of dental and periodontal disease with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS: This study was conducted in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, from December 2022 to June 2023 (six months). The data were collected from 381 participants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 2023 to June 2023. The study targeted male and female general dentists and obstetricians living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and excluded those who are not dentists and obstetricians or not living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

RESULT: Out of a total of 381 completed responses, 281 (73.8%) of the participants were dentists, while 100 (26.2%) were obstetricians. It was observed that the majority of the participants agreed that oral health is a part of prenatal care, while the minority did not agree (0.3%). Of the 281 (73.8%) respondents, most of them reported periodontal disease can cause preterm birth, low birth weight, and gestational diabetes (73.2%), while only 0.5% answered no. Two hundred and seventy-eight of the participants answered that it is essential to consult with an obstetrician before treating pregnant patients.

CONCLUSION: The overall knowledge of dentists and obstetricians was adequate regarding dental disease during pregnancy. However, more education should be assessed and continuously improved regarding the treatment options, as well as future recommendations regarding the medications used in dental clinics and awareness programs promoting dental health care in pregnant patients.