[The effect of knowledge regarding the importance of oral health in pregnancy].

INTRODUCTION

Although in modern dental medicine a pregnant woman and her foetus are completely safe during all dental procedures, the prevention is still the most effective measure for the preservation of oral health in pregnancy. However, pregnant women often visit a stomatologist only when there are already serious disturbances, regardless of the fact that they are referred to a stomatologist even at their first visit to a gynaecologist. The aim of the study was to investigate (possible) changes in pregnant women's attitudes toward oral health during pregnancy according to our educational programme.

METHODS

One hundred and sixty pregnant patients were randomly selected for the educational programme and were enrolled in the study. In direct contact (groups of 4 to 14 pregnant patients) they received basic information about the condition for attaining and maintaining their and foetal good health [1]. In order to establish the results, three anonymous questionnaires were conducted. Two of them made the questionnaire A because of identical results obtained before and after the education, and the third questionnaire B was different, and was conducted at the end. The questionnaire B concerned the personal point of view of pregnant women about the obtained information [2].

RESULTS

The results of the first two questionnaires (questionnaire A) are shown in Graph with a quantity of correct answers expressed in percents. The results of the questionnaire B are formulated according to answers to a question with "YES" and "NO", and they are expressed in percentage. The following results were obtained for questionnaire B: A hundred percent of pregnant women stated that they had learned something new about oral health, 67 percent had immediately changed their nutrition for healthy food, 100 percent of them understood well the significant role of fluor prophylaxis, 16 percent did not accept it for unknown reasons, but 100 percent thought that it was very useful to hear lectures about oral health [3].

DISCUSSION

A great interest existed for all preventive stomatologic measures and dental procedures during pregnancy, which formerly, as a rule, were avoided because of ignorance [4]. It is necessary to carry out a proper prevention, and adequately inform and motivate pregnant women, so that we could have a satisfied mother and carefree child in the future.