Presenters: Hannah Dawe
Authors: Hannah Dawe, Markell Blackmore
Faculty Advisor: Kimberly Jensen
Institution: Dixie State University
It is a worldwide misconception among women that with each pregnancy the mother will lose a tooth. This is due to the widespread belief that the fetus leaches calcium directly from the mother’s teeth. This can lead to acceptance of poor oral health and complacency in oral home care during pregnancy. The purpose of this project was to explore the perceptions of women around the globe on the topic of tooth loss and decay during pregnancy. This project also analyzes the causes of enamel loss during pregnancy. A literature search was conducted on PubMed using the keywords calcium, pregnancy, parity, perceptions, tooth-loss, and calcium-leaching. Primary sources and experiments were analyzed from the United States, Turkey, Nigeria, Australia, India, and China. The highest percent of misinformation was found in Turkey, where 73% of women believed they would lose a tooth per child. It was found that reflux, poor oral hygiene, increased carbohydrate intake, decreased oral pH, gestational diabetes, infrequent dental visits, and socioeconomic positions are all contributing factors to tooth loss and decay during pregnancy. Exacerbation of pre-existing conditions is also among the most noteworthy conditions leading to tooth loss and decay. Overall calcium deficiency does indeed occur during pregnancy, but it is not being leached from the mother’s teeth by the fetus. The dental hygienist plays a key role in informing patients on what to expect during pregnancy and how to care for their teeth aftervomiting. Women must be educated on the safety and efficacy of dental visits during pregnancy. This will aid women in being confident and competent in maintaining good oral home care during pregnancy.