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Oral Health Risk Assessment for Prenatal Care Providers

Oral Health Risk Assessment for Prenatal Care Providers

1. When was your last dental visit?
More than 6 months – Suggested provider response – I recommend you make a dental appointment as soon as possible. It is safe to get dental care during pregnancy and keeping your mouth and teeth healthy is important for the health of your baby.
2. Do you have a dental home (regular dentist)?
No – Suggested provider response – Do you need help finding a dental provider?
3. Do you have any current mouth/tooth pain today?
No – Suggested provider response – Let’s get you an appointment to see a dental provider as soon as possible.
4. Referral(1) Completed?
5. Potential caries, swollen or bleeding gums, other dental concern.
Suggested provider action – Document on referral form to dental provider.
6. Sign of infection or other urgent need.
Suggested provider action – Document on referral form to dental provider.

Citations and Notes

  • Ideally, the Prenatal Oral Health Risk Assessment is incorporated into electronic health record using a flowsheet with discoverable fields to pull reports. However, when needed, documenting in patient note can suffice, often using a SmartPhrase or Dot Phrase. ICD 10 code z13.84 (dental screening) can be used to flag charts of patients screened and then question 4 can be manually tallied to track referrals

  • Recommended By American College of Obstetrics (ACOG) and Oral Health During Pregnancy: a National Consensus Statement

  • Complete training at Smiles for Life – Course 5, CME provided. Needed supplies: gloves, adequate light, tongue depressor