Education is an important component of prenatal oral
health care and may have a significant effect on the oral health
of both the mother and the child. Counseling for the pregnant
adolescent includes topics directed toward all adolescent pa-
tients (eg, dietary habits, injury prevention, third molars), as
well as oral changes that may occur during pregnancy and in-
fant oral health care. Since the pregnant adolescent may be
receptive to information that will improve the infant’s health,
anticipatory guidance, a proactive developmentally-based
counseling technique, can be introduced to focus on the needs
of the child at each stage of life. Studies have documented
that early oral health care promotion starting during preg-
nancy can lead to a sustained and long-term improvement of
the oral health of children.