Importância do cirurgião-dentista no atendimento à gestante dentro da estratégia de saúde da família

Abstract

Pregnancy is a peculiar period in a woman's life, characterized by several physical, hormonal and psychological changes that may favor oral changes in the mother, such as periodontal disease and dental caries, and changes in the baby, such as premature birth and low birth weight, thus demanding greater assistance from the dental surgeon regarding comprehensive care. Assistance and adherence to dental treatment by pregnant women in the Basic Health Units (UBS) present some difficulties, such as lack of knowledge about the benefits for the mother and the baby, delay in attending the public service and lack of knowledge and experience on the part of some dentists who postpone procedures or do not intervene in a resolutive way for the integral treatment of these patients. The need for dental prenatal care is related to the negative repercussions on the life of the pregnant woman and the baby. In view of the importance of comprehensive care for pregnant women at the UBS, the objective of this literature review was to report on the importance of the dental surgeon in caring for pregnant women within the family health strategy. It is concluded that it is necessary to include dentistry as part of prenatal care, including educational guidance for the care of the pregnant woman and baby and necessary dental procedures in the different periods of pregnancy, improving the ease of access to the comprehensive service.