140 - Oral Health Screening Accuracy and Referral Outcomes in an Adolescent Pregnancy Clinic

Friday, May 22, 2026

2:20 PM - 2:35 PM PST

Has Audio

Presenting Author(s)

Rachel Maydew, DDS (she/her/hers)

Resident
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States

Co-Author(s)

Homa R. Amini, DDS, MPH, MS

Program Director
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Paul S. Casamassimo, DDS, MS

Professor Emeritus
The Ohio State University/ Nationwide Children's Hospital
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Beau D. Meyer, DDS, MPH

Associate Professor
The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
Columbus, Ohio, United States
JP

Jin R. Peng, MD, MS. PhD

The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Research Mentor(s)

Homa R. Amini, DDS, MPH, MS

Program Director
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Columbus, Ohio, United States

Program Director(s)

Kimberly J. Hammersmith, DDS, MPH, MS

Associate Professor
The Ohio State University/ Nationwide Children's Hospital
The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States

Abstract:

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate an oral health screening and referral program embedded within a Teen and Adolescent Pregnancy (TaP) clinic by characterizing patient demographics, oral health needs, and referral outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review of clinical and demographic data was conducted for patients seen in the TaP clinic from 2021 to 2025. During routine prenatal care, medical providers performed a standardized visual oral health screening, provided pregnancy-specific oral health education, and triaged patients for dental referral based on treatment urgency. Data included age, race and ethnicity, child opportunity index, insurance status, oral health needs, and referral status.

Results: Of the 767 pregnant adolescents and young adults in the TaP clinic, most were 15 to 18 years old (61%), followed by ages 19 to 24 years (35%) and 14 years and younger (4%). The population was predominantly Black (55%) and publicly insured, with 86% covered by Medicaid. Oral health screening by a medical provider was completed for 99% of patients. Screening identified 2% with urgent dental needs, 20% requiring early intervention, and 72% requiring routine care. While 68% of screened patients required a dental referral, only 17% completed a dental visit.

Conclusions: Integration of oral health screening and referral into a Teen and Adolescent Pregnancy clinic achieved a high screening completion rate and identified substantial dental treatment needs in a high-risk pediatric population. This model supports incorporating oral health screening into adolescent prenatal care to improve access to dental services.

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