CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Tracey Robinson hadn't been to a dentist in 10 years.

Robinson didn't have insurance or cash to pay for dental work. Her family moved a couple of times. Dental care wasn't a priority.

"After waiting so long, I was scared to go to the dentist," said Robinson, who is eight months pregnant.

Last week, Robinson, 30, scooted into a dental chair at the Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Center. She had come for a deep cleaning, X-rays and exam - free services now available to many pregnant women who receive care through FamilyCare health centers.

FamilyCare and the Schoenbaum center recently received a $97,000 grant from the state Department of Health and Human Resources to provide dental exams to about 425 pregnant women through June 2009.

Recent studies have shown that pregnant women with poor oral health and gum disease are more likely to deliver premature and underweight babies.

"If we are serious about addressing the high rate of low-birth-weight babies in our state, one important step is to help women take care of their oral health by covering the cost of dental care in pregnancy," said Martha Carter, FamilyCare's chief executive officer.

Medicaid pays for prenatal care and delivery costs in West Virginia. But the government-funded health insurance program doesn't cover dental care for pregnant women older than 19 - except for emergency tooth extractions.

With the new "Healthy Smiles" program, pregnant women receive a coupon that they can exchange for a cleaning and exam. The program also will pay for a follow-up visit for fillings or other routine work.

During the visit, dentists and hygienists talk to the women about proper oral hygiene.

Pregant women are at increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and gum disease if they have poor dental health. Hormonal changes make them more prone to contracting gingivitis. The second trimester is the best time to have extensive dental work - though routine fillings and the like can be safely done throughout pregnancy.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Tracey Robinson hadn't been to a dentist in 10 years.

Robinson didn't have insurance or cash to pay for dental work. Her family moved a couple of times. Dental care wasn't a priority.

"After waiting so long, I was scared to go to the dentist," said Robinson, who is eight months pregnant.

Last week, Robinson, 30, scooted into a dental chair at the Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Center. She had come for a deep cleaning, X-rays and exam - free services now available to many pregnant women who receive care through FamilyCare health centers.

FamilyCare and the Schoenbaum center recently received a $97,000 grant from the state Department of Health and Human Resources to provide dental exams to about 425 pregnant women through June 2009.

Recent studies have shown that pregnant women with poor oral health and gum disease are more likely to deliver premature and underweight babies.

"If we are serious about addressing the high rate of low-birth-weight babies in our state, one important step is to help women take care of their oral health by covering the cost of dental care in pregnancy," said Martha Carter, FamilyCare's chief executive officer.

Medicaid pays for prenatal care and delivery costs in West Virginia. But the government-funded health insurance program doesn't cover dental care for pregnant women older than 19 - except for emergency tooth extractions.

With the new "Healthy Smiles" program, pregnant women receive a coupon that they can exchange for a cleaning and exam. The program also will pay for a follow-up visit for fillings or other routine work.

During the visit, dentists and hygienists talk to the women about proper oral hygiene.

Pregant women are at increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and gum disease if they have poor dental health. Hormonal changes make them more prone to contracting gingivitis. The second trimester is the best time to have extensive dental work - though routine fillings and the like can be safely done throughout pregnancy.

The day before Robinson came to the clinic, FamilyCare's dentist, Dr. Maria "Rita" Bernardo, drilled and filled another pregnant woman's tooth. The woman's due date is Friday.

"Her tooth was hurting her," Bernardo said. "I was like, 'Please don't deliver in the chair.'"

Bernardo said many pregnant women don't understand how important oral hygiene is to their health - and their baby's health.

"During pregnancy, the teeth and gums are more prone to bacteria," Bernardo said. "If you have bacteria, it's going to pass to the fetus."

FamilyCare's prenatal patients receive a "goody" bag that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and an oral health information packet.

The women also are asked to complete a six-page questionnaire about their oral health. The answers will be shared with West Virginia University researchers and FamilyCare staff who want to find out why pregnant women often neglect dental health.

"It's going to help us figure out what the barriers are to getting good dental care," Carter said. "Is it fear? Is it finances? A lot of women want to go to the dentist, but they have to make choices where they spend their money, and dental care falls to the bottom of the list."

FamilyCare's dental staff also hopes that pregnant women who improve their oral health will pass along those better habits to their children.

West Virginia kids have a higher rate of cavities than the national average.

"Research has shown that parents' habits, beliefs and attitudes toward oral health influence how they care for their children," Carter said. "My ultimate goal is to demonstrate that paying for oral health care for pregnant women makes good sense for West Virginia."

Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com">erice...@wvgazette.com or 348-4869.