Dental Treatments During Pregnancy: 5 Things To Know
There’s an old belief that visiting your dentist while pregnant can put you and your baby at risk. However, only its opposite is true—proper oral hygiene is crucial whether you’re pregnant or not.
So you should visit your dentist during pregnancy when necessary. Leaving oral problems, such as dental cavities and gum disease, untreated can endanger your health. The mouth is a passageway that gives you significant control over your bodily functions—and, consequently, your overall health. Therefore, your oral health can also affect the child you’re carrying
Your dentist may suggest making regular dental checkups during your pregnancy to check the condition of your gums and teeth. They may also adjust your dental care routine and provide necessary treatments.
To find more information, you may schedule an appointment with your dentist. Or you may continue reading below to learn some things you might want to know.
- Is Dental Cleaning Safe During The Second Trimester?
Dental care treatments for every trimester are considered safe for pregnant women. The second trimester might be ideal for oral prophylaxis (dental cleaning). This is because it’ll be difficult for moms-to-be to lie back for an extended period.
In most cases, healthcare professionals don’t see the need to cancel common dental care treatments. In fact, they believe that the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, like premature birth, is associated with oral health conditions, particularly periodontal disease.
Some care providers suggest waiting for the first trimester to finish before receiving dental treatments to prevent miscarriage. However, common dental procedures aren’t associated with miscarriage, so there’s no need to delay the treatment.
- Is It Safe To Receive Anesthesia?
If you need to undergo dental surgery while pregnant, your dentist may use anesthesia to help numb the pain. It’s important to inform your care provider about your pregnancy so they can choose the anesthetics suitable for your condition.
Local anesthetics like lidocaine, mepivacaine, and bupivacaine are considered safe for pregnant women as long as they’re properly administered. However, those containing felypressin must be avoided because it promotes the constriction of blood vessels.
For pregnant women, dentists often use the lowest possible amount of anesthesia for the procedure to be carried out. This is enough to help you feel relaxed so that you and your baby are less stressed.
If there’s a need for stronger anesthetics, your dentist will discuss the matter with your obstetrician-gynecologist to find out what’s best for you.
- Is Tooth Extraction Possible For Pregnant Women?
Extractions are the last treatment option for most dentists. They’ll try to do anything to save your tooth from getting extracted; however, they have to remove it permanently if it’s seriously damaged. If they don’t, your health will be at risk.
Dental extractions are safe during pregnancy, but experts agree that the ideal time to receive one is during your second trimester.
The first trimester is your baby’s initial stage of development—receiving X-rays during this phase isn’t advisable. And it’ll be difficult for you to lie on your back during your third trimester because your belly will be heavier and bigger than before.
- Is Root Canal Safe For Pregnant Women?
If cavities get inside your teeth, you’ll likely experience excruciating pain because of the nerve endings located within. To address this problem, your dentist may recommend root canal treatment.
Root canal treatment removes the infected tissues and restores the affected tooth using a dental crown. With this, you don’t have to undergo tooth extractions.
If your condition calls for an emergency, your dentist may perform a root canal anytime during your pregnancy. The procedure mustn’t be delayed to prevent the worsening of your condition. However, since your dentist will use X-rays, the ideal time would be your second trimester.
- Is Teeth Whitening Safe During Pregnancy?
Teeth whitening is considered safe at all stages of pregnancy. However, your dentist may advise you to wait until after you give birth because it’s not an emergency. This is to ensure that you and your baby are safe and healthy.
Aside from teeth whitening, other dental cosmetic procedures should be avoided, especially during the third trimester. This is because of the discomfort you might feel while the procedure is being performed.
If you’re using a whitening kit at home, make sure its hydrogen peroxide content is no more than 6%. Otherwise, surrounding tissues will be damaged. Instead of focusing on cosmetic treatment, this dentist who does dental bondings and fillings in Harrisburg highly suggests focusing on your diet. They highly recommend foods that are high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C for stronger and healthier teeth and gums.
Final Words
Expecting mothers should schedule regular dental appointments during pregnancy to promote their baby’s health. Dental treatments, such as extractions, whitening, root canals, and others, can be provided at any stage of the pregnancy. However, if the condition isn’t an emergency, it’s best to postpone the treatment until delivery to ensure that both mother and child are safe.
