INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION: ORAL HEALTH SCREENING BY MIDWIVES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN TO PREVENT PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Physiological and hormonal changes during pregnancy significantly increase susceptibility to dental caries and periodontal disease. If left untreated, chronic oral inflammation can trigger systemic pathways leading to severe adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia. While midwives serve as the primary healthcare providers during antenatal care, early oral health screening remains underintegrated. This literature review aims to analyze the role of midwife-led oral health screening and interprofessional collaboration with dental professionals in detecting oral diseases and preventing pregnancy complications. A narrative literature review was conducted by searching electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, for peer-reviewed articles published within the last 5 years (2021–2026). Search terms included combinations of "midwife," "oral health screening," "periodontitis," "interprofessional collaboration," and "pregnancy complications." Synthesis of the literature indicates that early oral health screening by midwives significantly improves the detection rates of periodontitis and caries among pregnant women. Integrated antenatal screening protocols accompanied by timely dental referrals effectively reduce oral pathogen load and systemic inflammatory markers, thereby mitigating the risk of obstetric complications. Key barriers identified include midwives' limited oral health training, lack of standardized screening tools, and fragmented referral pathways. Interprofessional collaboration between midwives and dental professionals through routine oral health screening during antenatal care is a crucial preventive strategy to reduce pregnancy complications.