info

The relationship between pregnancy and oral health is an area of growing interest within dental and medical research. Pregnancy induces significant hormonal changes that can affect oral health, leading to conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Additionally, pregnant individuals may face unique challenges in maintaining oral hygiene due to physical, emotional, and social factors. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing targeted interventions that promote oral health during pregnancy, ultimately benefiting both the mother and the developing fetus.

Research has shown that poor oral health can lead to systemic complications, including adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Recent advances in this field include the development of tailored dental care guidelines and evidence-based interventions aimed at improving oral hygiene practices among pregnant individuals. Continued research can help bridge gaps in knowledge and practice, leading to better health outcomes for mothers and infants alike.

Ongoing exploration of the connections between oral health and pregnancy holds the promise of enhancing preventive strategies and interventions. By integrating dental care into prenatal healthcare, future studies may reveal innovative approaches to managing oral health concerns, ultimately contributing to healthier pregnancies and improved health outcomes.

We invite submissions on a range of topics that include, but are not limited to:

Interventions for improving oral hygiene during pregnancy
Impact of gingivitis on pregnancy outcomes
Oral-systemic complications during pregnancy
Importance of dental care in prenatal health

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

Submit your manuscript to this collection through the participating journal.

Journal

BMC Oral Health

BMC Oral Health is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of disorders of the mouth, teeth and gums,...

Submit to this journal Submission guidelines

Hyewon Lee DrPh, DMD

Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.

Dr Hyewon Lee currently serves as the Director of the Global Maternal and Child Oral Health Center at Seoul National University. She has published numerous papers in international journals and worked with researchers from all over the world. Her top research interests include maternal and child oral health, global health, and female leadership. She is a global oral health expert and pediatric dentist who assesses contextual and enabling factors to create healthy environments for women and children. Her work includes integrating oral health into health policies and practices at international, national, and community levels. As Chair of the World Federation of Public Health Associations Oral Health Workgroup, she and her team launched the 2023 Global Maternal and Child Oral Health Initiative, securing endorsements from more than 50 international and national health organizations and ministries of health. In 2024, she founded the Global Maternal and Child Oral Health Center at Seoul National University. This center serves as a think tank for global oral health actions by integrating oral health into existing policies and practices while generating advocacy momentum for women and children.
Norkhafizah Saddki MCommMed (Oral Health)

Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town, Malaysia.

Associate Professor Norkhafizah Saddki is a dental public health specialist and academic at the School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). She graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Otago in 1996 and began her career as a Dental Officer with the Ministry of Health Malaysia. In 2001, she joined USM as a trainee lecturer and subsequently completed her Master of Community Medicine (Oral Health) at USM in 2005. Dr Saddki has been a key figure in advancing postgraduate education in dental public health in Malaysia. As the first Program Chairperson for Dental Public Health at USM, she led the development of the innovative 1+3 postgraduate pathway—comprising the Master of Dental Public Health (MDPH) and Doctor of Dental Public Health (DrDPH)—which replaced the earlier four‑year master’s program beginning in 2010. She contributes nationally as a member of the Dental Specialty Education Committee (DentSEdC) for Dental Public Health, where she is involved in developing program standards for specialist training. Her research focuses on oral disease prevention, oral health‑related quality of life, women’s oral health, and community‑based oral health promotion. With a current Scopus h‑index of 17, her scholarly work has been widely cited, reflecting her contributions to advancing dental public health research and practice in Malaysia and the region. Dr Saddki continues to play an active and influential role in promoting academic excellence, research excellence, and industry and community engagement. Through her leadership in collaborative research, postgraduate training, and community‑centered oral health initiatives, she remains strongly committed to strengthening preventive oral healthcare and improving population oral health outcomes in Malaysia and the region.