Utilization of dental services due to dental pain by pregnant women in India: A qualitative analysis

Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to evaluate the utilization of dental services by pregnant women due to dental pain and also to evaluate the role of their educational qualification on utilization. Materials and Methods: The research tool was a semi-structured questionnaire, which was completed by 175 pregnant women attending various primary health centers, private clinics and nursing homes in Mangalore. The women were divided into two groups namely, Group 1: Who have not been graduated and Group 2: Who have been graduated. Comparisons were made between Group 1 and Group 2. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and odds ratio (OR). Results: Decayed teeth were found to be the predominant factor of pain as reported by women in both groups. However, the number of women who utilized dental services during this period was almost identical in both the groups, with 23.5% women in Group 1 and 24.7% women in Group 2. However, the association between utilization of dental care among pregnant women in both groups who did not report dental pain during pregnancy and those who did report showed statistical significance (OR = 13.63; 95% confidence interval = 3.81, 48.75). Conclusion: The present study showed that despite the presence of pain due to dental causes, utilization of dental services by pregnant women was poor. It was also revealed that those with a graduate qualification were more likely to visit a dentist for preventive treatment during pregnancy Clinical Relevance to Interdisciplinary Dentistry Utilization of oral health-care services will provide insight to dental clinicians about treatment planning and also to educate about the treatment option to patients. Pregnant women being one of the target groups for oral health services, oral health professionals must know in detail about their utilization history. Pain is an important factor for utilization of the dental services, which may be due to pulpal, periodontal and oral lesions. Etiology and treatment planning requires an interdisciplinary approach.