Oral Health and the Perinatal Journey

Oral health is a critical, yet often overlooked, component of the perinatal journey. Across the continuum from preconception through pregnancy and the postpartum period, there are multiple opportunities for care teams to identify risks, reinforce prevention, and coordinate care that supports both maternal and infant health. This webinar explores how oral health intersects with maternal and behavioral health, and how care teams across primary care, obstetrics, dental care, and community-based services can work together to deliver more connected, whole-person care. Emphasis is placed on practical strategies to integrate oral health into routine perinatal care, strengthen referral pathways, and leverage care team members to improve outcomes. Key topics include: • Integrating oral health into perinatal risk assessment and routine care • Understanding the connection between oral health, maternal health, and birth outcomes • Building effective referral pathways across medical, dental, and community-based clinicians • The role of community health workers, doulas, and care coordinators in supporting continuity of care Participants will gain: • A deeper understanding of the relationship between oral health and maternal and infant outcomes • Practical approaches to incorporating oral health into perinatal care workflows • Strategies to strengthen care coordination across clinical and community settings • Tools to support more integrated, patient-centered care throughout the perinatal period This webinar is produced by Texas Health Institute in partnership with the Texas Primary Care Consortium, Texas Oral Health Coalition, and Rural Texas Maternal Health Assembly with support from BlueCross BlueShield of Texas.