The Research of Awareness of Medical Personnel Regarding Oral Pathology Prevention During Pregnancy

Abstract

During the pregnancy period woman repeatedly seeks medical aid and consults different medical specialists. Meanwhile, there is no continuity for dynamic monitoring of pregnant woman’s health. The level of knowledge of medical personnel concerning prevention of main dental diseases must be high enough, as the influence on manageable risk factors is under their responsibilities. However, this level is confirmed neither in Russian, nor in the foreign literature. Aim - study of awareness of medical personnel who monitor pregnant women on the issues concerning prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Data and methods. A survey was conducted among 127 medical doctors of different specialities (obstetrician-gynecologists, dentists, pediatricians), working for state budgetary public health organizations of Samara. Results. The study highlighted a low level of primary health care doctors’ awareness on preventive measures for the main dental diseases of pregnant women (absence of motivation for dental diseases prevention and oral hygiene, inadequate knowledge about fluoride importance for caries prevention, exaggeration of the influence of non-manageable risk factors (heredity, ecological environment) on dental pathology development, a high level of reliance on information from the mass media about preventive measures in dentistry). Conclusion. It is necessary to improve the level of knowledge of doctors who monitor pregnant women. It can be achieved by the increase of doctors’ awareness (organization of lectures and seminars, development and production of visual aids for doctors of different specialities and mid-level medical staff).