Knowledge, attitude and practises of dentists towards oral health care during pregnancy : a cross-sectional survey in New South Wales, Australia

Background: Studies internationally show a lack of consensus among dentists regarding perinatal oral health yet no study in Australia has explored the perceptions of dentists in this area. This study aims to determine the knowledge, perceptions and practises of dentists in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, about perinatal oral health. Methods: An online survey was distributed to 1357 members of the Australian Dental Association (NSW) and 185 (13.4%) completed surveys were returned. Results: Most dentists (99%) stated that pregnant women should receive a dental check, yet only 20% agreed that there was a good understanding among health professionals on this topic. Dentists were aware of safe dental practises during pregnancy but had limited knowledge about the association between periodontal disease and birth outcomes. Dentists were more likely to advise pregnant women to delay dental visits when there was a perceived lack of knowledge of the risks involved (odds ratio, 2.157) or were concerned about providing treatment without consent from their general practitioner (odds ratio, 2.449). Most dentists (95.7%) stated that they wanted further information about dental care during pregnancy. Conclusions: Findings suggest a need for continuing education for dentists and practise guidelines on perinatal oral health. Further research with a national sample is recommended to confirm these findings.