News & Events

The latest news from the EFP as well as details of its forthcoming events and those of its affiliated national societies of periodontology.

Upcoming events from EFP's member societies

Learn in advance about the conferences and meetings being organised by the EFP's national member societies in the weeks and months ahead.

Perio Workshop

Learn about Perio Workshop, the EFP’s annual scientific meeting that brings the best periodontal scientists together to reach a new consensus on strategic periodontal issues.

Public health & Prevention, Systemic health, Article

Innovations: Helping to improve oral health in pregnant women

16 December 2024

View all publications

image of MOMDental app on mobile phone screen

Pregnancy creates challenges for the oral health of expectant mothers, with an increased risk of periodontitis and possible complications include pre-term and low-weight births. Zerina Hadžić, one of the three winners of the EFP’s Innovation Award for Digital Solutions for Gum Health 2024, describes her AI-supported app MOMDental, which is designed to provide pregnant women with tools to help them better manage their oral health.

As a mother and a dedicated periodontist, I have witnessed the effects that periodontal disease can have on pregnancy and its outcomes. This led me to develop MOMDental, an AI-supported app designed to address the critical link between pregnancy and periodontitis. My goal was to provide expectant mothers and women planning to become pregnant with the tools they need to better understand and manage their oral health during one of the most crucial periods of their lives.

MOMDental is a groundbreaking app that empowers pregnant women to take charge of their oral health. The app aims to fill a critical gap in maternal healthcare by addressing the often-overlooked issue of periodontal disease during pregnancy. I believe that this innovation has the potential to transform maternal health care by making oral health a priority during pregnancy, ultimately reducing the risks associated with periodontal disease.

By using advanced artificial intelligence, MOMDental allows users to easily monitor their oral health by simply uploading a photograph of their teeth and gums. The AI system analyses the image for signs of periodontal disease, offering personalized recommendations and alerts if professional dental care is needed.

By providing instant analysis, the app makes it convenient for expectant mothers to stay informed about their oral health, without the need for constant in-person consultations. And by monitoring of symptoms for periodontal diseases, the app also provides a wide spectrum of educational components and empowers the future mothers to learn how to protect their oral health.

With interactive modules, informative articles, reminders, alerts and expert tips, users can learn about how oral health affects pregnancy outcomes, including potential complications, such as preterm birth and low birthweight. By emphasizing the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene, MOMDental helps mothers and mothers-to-be to understand how their oral health can impact not only their pregnancy but also the long-term health of their children.

As MOMDental continues to develop, the plan is to expand its capabilities to reach more mothers worldwide by including more languages, with English being joined later by Spanish, French, and German,

The future includes enhancing AI accuracy and incorporating more personalized health insights. We will call the periodontists and oral-healthcare experts for partnering and inclusion of worldwide periodontal care providers in the app, giving all the future mothers a chance to easily find and contact a periodontist.

By making oral health an important part of pregnancy healthcare, MOMDental aims to contribute to healthier mothers and healthier children.

Biography

Zerina Hadžić is a specialist in periodontology and oral medicine from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

She earned her doctorate from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, with research on the impact of non-surgical periodontal therapy on microbial profile, oxidative stress and C-reactive protein in saliva. Dr Hadžić also holds an MSc in periodontology from the University of Sarajevo, where she also completed her undergraduate studies.

As a lecturer, Dr Hadžić frequently shares her knowledge with peers, emphasising evidence-based practices in periodontal and oral-health management. She has developed MOMDental, a tool to support pregnant women in recognising and managing periodontal symptoms for a healthier future.