THE ROLE OF THE DENTIST IN THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY PRENATAL CARE TEAM

Abstract

Prenatal care aims to ensure that the baby is born healthy and that the mother remains well. The connection established among the multidisciplinary team supporting the pregnant woman will foster commitment and responsibility, contributing to an improved quality of life. The objective of this study is to analyze the importance of the dental surgeon’s role in prenatal care. This study was conducted as a literature review, using a qualitative approach and an exploratory-descriptive design. For the preparation of this study, articles were searched in the following databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online (ScieLO), National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Capes Journals, and BVS. The following Health Sciences Descriptors (DECS) were used in this research: Dental Surgeon; Pregnant Woman; Pediatric Dentistry; Prenatal. The inclusion criteria covered articles published from 2019 to 2025, ensuring that the information in the studies was up to date, as well as research available in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Studies that were duplicates in the selected databases and publications that addressed only care were removed from the selection. Initially, we identified 450 studies for this study. Immediately thereafter, after applying the previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 8 articles were selected for this study. It is evident that the presence of the dental surgeon in prenatal care is not merely a supplement but an essential element in the care of pregnant women.