Midwives

Pregnancy is an important time for women to look after their oral health. Recent research has linked the poor oral health of pregnant women with premature births, low birth weights and an increased risk of early childhood dental caries in their children. The information and resources below will help you to support better oral health during pregnancy.

Oral health promotion programs for midwives

Healthy Families, Healthy Smiles

Through the Healthy Families, Healthy Smiles initiative, DHSV is supporting midwives working in antenatal care to build knowledge, skills and confidence to include oral health promotion in their work with women.

More about Healthy Families, Healthy Smiles

Resources for midwives

CPD – Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Education Program

This online training package is recognised by the Australian College of Midwives and allocated 16 CPD points. DHSV is providing the course free of charge to a limited number of midwives working in antenatal care in Victoria. To find out more, contact the Healthy Families, Healthy Smiles team or click the link below.

More about the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Education Program

Oral health assessment and referral pathway

This flowchart is designed to support midwives to conduct an oral health assessment with pregnant women and provide a referral.

Click here to download.

For enquiries relating to establishing referral pathways with your local community dental agency, referral templates or oral health promotion education for midwives, please contact the Healthy Families, Healthy Smiles team.

CPD - Pregnancy and oral health video resource for midwives

Why oral health should not be forgotten by midwives
A collaborative process between La Trobe University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery and DHSV has resulted in this video discussion between Dr Hanny Calache(Director of Clinical Leadership DHSV) and two senior midwives Stacey Gilbert (the Royal Women’s Hospital) and Deborah Pidd (the Mercy Hospital for Women).

Clinical Practice Guidelines: Pregnancy Care

The Clinical Practice Guidelines: Pregnancy Care provide evidence-based advice on the care of pregnant women in a range of settings. The guidelines include a section on oral health to support health professionals working with women in the early antenatal period.

More about the antenatal care guidelines