Women who receive dental care before or during their pregnancy have a lower risk of giving birth to a preterm or low-birth-weight baby than pregnant women who don't seek dental care at all, according to a study by Aetna and the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.
The study, conducted between January 1, 2003, and September 30, 2006, reviewed medical and dental insurance data for 29,000 pregnant women who each had medical and dental coverage with Aetna to determine if there was an association between dental treatment and the likelihood of experiencing either birth outcome.
"Further studies need to be done, but our findings show that dental treatment had a protective effect on adverse birth outcomes in women who sought dental treatment," said David Albert, D.D.S., M.P.H., director of the Division of Community Health at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, in a press release.
When comparing the group who did not receive any dental treatment to the groups that received gum treatment and dental cleaning, the study found:
- The preterm birth rate was 11% for those not receiving dental treatment and 6.4% for those receiving treatment.
- The low birth weight rate was 5.4% for those not receiving dental treatment and 3.6% or lower among the groups receiving treatment.
"The results of this study send a strong message about the importance of dental care for women who want to start a family," said Dr. Mary Lee Conicella, D.M.D., F.A.G.D., national director of clinical operations for Aetna Dental. "We are seeing evidence that supports the role of routine preventive dental care in helping to protect the health of the newborn and the mother, and contributing to lower associated medical costs."
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