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Multilevel factors associated with dentists’ counseling of pregnant women about periodontal health
Author(s) -
Chi Donald L.,
Milgrom Peter,
Carle Adam C.,
Huebner Colleen E.,
Mancl Lloyd A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/scd.12014
Subject(s) - medicine , periodontal disease , family medicine , pregnancy , workforce , psychological intervention , oral health , dentistry , nursing , genetics , economics , biology , economic growth
Objective To identify factors associated with dentists’ counseling of pregnant patients about periodontal health. Methods Survey data from Oregon general dentists (N = 771) were linked to county‐level data from the U.S. Area Resource Files and analyzed using two‐level hierarchical linear models. Results Dentists who believed there is an important relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes counseled significantly larger proportions of pregnant patients ( p < .0001). Female dentists ( p < .05) and those who saw a greater number of pregnant patients ( p < .05) were more likely to counsel. County‐level health workforce characteristics (e.g., percent female physicians, obstetricians or gynecologists, female dentists) were not significantly associated with dentists’ counseling. Conclusions Dentists who were knowledgeable about periodontal disease were more likely to counsel pregnant patients. Future interventions should improve the oral health knowledge of dentists and other healthcare professionals regarding the importance of comprehensive dental care, including periodontal treatment when needed, for all pregnant patients.