Improving Oral Health and Overall Health for Pregnant People and Infants

ABSTRACT

Background: This article describes the Perinatal and Infant Oral Health Quality Improvement (PIOHQI) initiative, launched to improve integration of preventive oral health care into primary care for pregnant people and infants.

Case description: Pregnancy is characterized by physiological changes that may adversely affect oral health and increase the risk for oral diseases. Hormonal and immunologic changes make pregnant people susceptible to oral health problems, which can have implications for infant oral health. The PIOHQI initiative worked to improve integration of preventive oral health care into primary care for pregnant people and infants.

Practical implications: Project findings provide promising evidence for efficacy of PIOHQI interventions.

Keywords:

• Pregnant people
• infants
• oral health

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Katrina Holt

Katrina Holt, MPH, MS, RD, is the project director for the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center at Georgetown University. She is a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

Ruth Barzel

Ruth Barzel, MA, is a senior editor/writer for the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center at Georgetown University.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.