Is It Safe to Undergo Dental Treatment While Pregnant?
Pregnancy is exciting and can make you forget the basic necessities of your life while preparing for your baby. For example, for unknown reasons, you tend to ignore dental health without realizing the importance of maintaining it in excellent condition during pregnancy. Maintaining optimal oral health is essential both for you and the baby because ignoring oral health during pregnancy can have an adverse impact on your pregnancy.
Dental work and procedures can proceed unhindered during pregnancy safely. Some dental treatments are recommended during your second or third trimester by the dentist near me. However, the restrictions don’t prevent you from getting regular dental care as dentists recommend. This article looks at the dental work you can have during this exciting period to help you maintain excellent oral health throughout your pregnancy.
Can I Get Dental Cleaning While I’m Pregnant?
Dental cleanings during pregnancy are encouraged by the dentist in Gilbert, AZ, to prevent you from developing unnecessary dental complications. In addition, dental cleanings help eliminate plaque and tartar deposits on your teeth, building up constantly even after brushing and flossing.
Plaque and tartar deposits are the leading reasons for gum disease, also known as pregnancy gingivitis. Developing pregnancy gingivitis not only affects your oral health and causes loss of teeth but, if left untreated, progresses to advanced periodontal disease silently requiring lifelong maintenance and regular visits to dentists. In reality, dentists encourage regular cleanings to eliminate gum disease, an entirely preventable condition.
Are There Pregnancy Risks for Tooth Extractions?
The American Dental Association confirms tooth extractions are safe during this exciting moment. Dentists recommend tooth extractions as a last resort to remove an infected or severely damaged tooth. However, tooth extractions are best performed in the second trimester because the development of your baby’s organs during the first trimester and the discomfort you experience lying on your back during the third make it inconvenient for you to undergo the procedure.
There are no risks when undergoing tooth extractions during pregnancy so long as you receive local anesthesia. Dentists exercise precautions not to provide pregnant women with sedation or general anesthesia despite the national maternal and child oral health resource Center confirming that sedation or general anesthesia can be used after consultation with a prenatal healthcare provider.
Timing is essential for tooth removal during pregnancy. However, if you encounter an emergency that requires tooth removal, you can undergo emergency dental work and have the tooth removal accomplished by the dentist regardless of the trimester. Getting a harshly damaged or infected tooth removed is better for you and the baby than leaving it to rot in your mouth.
Whether you need to have a tooth pulled, root canals, or dental cleanings, it is essential for you not to ignore your teeth and gums during pregnancy. If you overlook dental treatments during pregnancy, the neglect can impact your health and that of your baby adversely.
What Other Procedures Are Safe during Pregnancy?
Most dental procedures are safe during pregnancy so long as you keep your dental healthcare provider informed that you are pregnant. You can undergo procedures like dental x-rays, tooth extractions, receive dental anesthesia, cleanings, and even dental fillings for cavities.
If you develop tooth decay during pregnancy, cavities are safely treatable at any time. However, if possible, try to schedule dental fillings in the second trimester when you no longer feel overwhelmed with the risk of nausea. Discuss the filling material with your dentist because silver amalgam fillings contain mercury, a neurotoxin that can pose risks to your baby. Therefore discuss amalgam fillings and their risks with your dentist if you need a tooth filled.
Don’t be surprised with tooth decay during pregnancy because the morning sickness and increased acidity in your mouth, cravings for sugary foods, and neglect of oral health make you prone to the condition. However, do not worry that your pregnancy needs more attention than your oral health because neglecting oral health can adversely impact your overall health and that of the baby.
When to Inform Your Dentist about Your Pregnancy?
Before any dental appointment is best that you keep your dentist informed about your pregnancy, the professional considers which treatments are suitable for you and whether additional precautions are essential. Keeping your dentist informed about your pregnancy at the earliest helps the professional provide a better roadmap and recommendations for your dental health during this particular exciting moment.
Are you concerned about having dental work while pregnant? If so, please schedule an appointment with Smiles of Gilbert to understand which dental treatments are most appropriate during this exciting moment.