Pregnancy has an impact on a woman’s body in multiple ways. As hormones change during pregnancy, there can be increased risks to your oral health. It is important to maintain a healthy mouth during your pregnancy to decrease any risks for your child and your oral health. Scheduling appointments with your dentist before pregnancy and during your second trimester is an easy way to check and maintain your oral health.
Dentistry During Pregnancy and After Pregnancy
While minor dental treatments can be safely administered during pregnancy there are many advantages to optimizing oral health before pregnancy. Having healthy teeth and gums makes the mouth more able to handle the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and may even benefit the health of the developing fetus.
Plan major work for before pregnancy if possible
If possible have your dentist perform a complete oral examination and any necessary x-rays before pregnancy. This will ensure that any untreated dental disease is identified and managed before pregnancy.
Is Sedation Safe For Pregnant Women?
Pregnant women generally should not be sedated during pregnancy. Additionally, since the indication for dental treatment under sedation is typically long or invasive procedures, it is also best to postpone such procedures until after pregnancy.
Which trimesters are safest for dental work?
Should dental work be necessary during pregnancy it should ideally be scheduled for the second trimester. The second trimester is safest for the developing fetus while still being a relatively comfortable period for the expecting mother.
Can Expecting Moms Have Regular Dental Cleanings?
Yes. Not only are regular cleanings possible, it is beneficial to have cleanings more frequently. Pregnancy can pre-dispose expecting mothers to increased incidence and severity of gingivitis due to the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy.
What Happens If a Pregnant Woman Needs Emergency Work Done?
As discussed above, most dentists would recommend identifying oral health issues before pregnancy. However, should unforeseen dental problems develop during pregnancy it is safest to manage them in the simplest least invasive way possible.
The key take home messages:
- Keep the teeth and gums healthy before pregnancy and there shouldn’t be any emergencies during pregnancy.
- Attend for more frequent cleaning throughout pregnancy as you are at higher risk of gingivitis when pregnant.
- If an emergency arises, don’t panic, appropriate shielding for x-rays and safe anesthetics are available.
Be sure to set maintaining good oral health high on your priority list during pregnancy. Keep the possible oral health concerns in mind and don’t hesitate to contact your dentist should any issues arise.