Abstract
Introduction: The use of pharmacological agents during dental care should be done with caution. It is imperative that a dental clinician makes a clear assessment of the risks and benefits prior to prescription of medications to pregnant patients and recommend good oral health practices for a pregnant patient. Objective: To assess the knowledge of drug safety and oral health practices during pregnancy among dental clinicians. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of dentists in Nigeria. The questionnaire elicited information on demographic characteristics, knowledge of drugs that can be used safely during pregnancy and practices that improve oral health in pregnancy. The data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Results: Majority (93.0%) of the respondents knew that the analgesic acetaminophen can be used during pregnancy. 87.2% knew that tetracycline cannot be used during pregnancy. Only a few 24.4% of the respondents knew that the use of baking soda in a cup of water as mouth rinse after a vomiting episode improves oral health in pregnancy. Conclusion: There is need to update the dental curriculum and continuing dental education courses to include pregnancy-specific education.
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