Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Objective This study aimed to explore pregnant women’s knowledge, perceptions, and experiences regarding oral health, with a particular focus on barriers to accessing dental care. Methods A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with pregnant women (n = 11) selected using purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s framework. Results Eight main themes were identified: (1) knowledge gaps and misinformation, (2) structural barriers to accessing dental care, (3) pregnancy-related fears and misconceptions, (4) institutional neglect of oral health in prenatal care and missed opportunities for preventive care. (5) social support and information ambiguity, (6) oral health behaviors and daily practices, (7) economic constraints, (8) risk perception and partial awareness. Participants frequently reported uncertainty regarding the safety of dental treatment during pregnancy, difficulties in accessing public dental services, and financial barriers to private care. Social influences, particularly from family members, played a significant role in shaping health behaviors. Additionally, oral health was not routinely addressed within prenatal care services. Conclusion Oral healthcare utilization during pregnancy is shaped by a complex interaction of individual, social, and systemic factors. Integrating oral health into antenatal care services and improving access to affordable dental care may help reduce these barriers and improve maternal oral health outcomes.</p>