Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Selcuk Dental Journal, cilt.13, sa.1, ss.26-34, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
Objective: This study aimed to assess obstetricians, midwives, and nurses’ knowledge of oral and dental health during pregnancy and identify their educational needs. Methods: This study was conducted at the Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Dursun Odabaş Medical Center in Turkey. A questionnaire with 32 questions was administered to the participants, including four sociodemographic questions, 12 knowledge-based questions, and 16 questions related to attitudes and clinical practices. Results: A total of 162 healthcare professionals participated in the study, including 25 obstetricians, 36 obstetrics and gynecology residents, 46 midwives, 11 senior midwifery students, 43 nurses, and 1 senior nursing student. A statistically significant difference was found in the knowledge levels among the professional groups (p <0.001). Obstetricians had the highest awareness of the effects of hormonal changes on oral health during pregnancy, whereas midwives and nurses had lower awareness, with students exhibiting the lowest. The findings indicate that misconceptions regarding the safety of dental treatment during pregnancy are prevalent. Some participants perceived dental treatment as unsafe during pregnancy, expressing concerns that such procedures might pose risks to the fetus, regardless of the trimester. Others have indicated that the safety of dental treatment may vary depending on the clinical situation. The referral rate of pregnant women to dentists varied significantly among the professional groups, with obstetricians being the most frequent referrers (p = 0.04). A significant difference was also observed in knowledge levels between sexes, with female healthcare professionals exhibiting greater knowledge than their male counterparts (p <0.001). Conclusion: Although obstetricians exhibited the highest knowledge levels, many healthcare professionals had misconceptions regarding the safety of dental treatment during pregnancy. Undergraduate and postgraduate training programs should be enhanced to enable midwives and nurses to provide adequate oral health education to pregnant women. Additionally, clinical practices among obstetricians should be strengthened, and interdisciplinary collaboration should be promoted to bridge knowledge gaps among healthcare professionals.