Going to the dentist is as important to do during pregnancy as it is during other times in your life. As long as the dentist knows about your condition, he or she will be able to only do the things that are safe for you during your pregnancy.
Not only is dental work during pregnancy safe, but it is recommended. The changes in hormone levels during pregnancy can cause many dental problems that should be addressed.
You may notice a swelling of the gums, bleeding, and so forth. The swollen gums can also trap food next to your teeth which will irritate your gums and result in the decay of your teeth.
By regularly attending the dentist to take preventative measures on your teeth, you will be able to reduce your risk for gum disease which could result in preterm birth. It is also important to get cavities and other threats to your teeth treated so that infection does not occur.
Infection could cause a myriad of other problems that could complicate your pregnancy. However, it is best to wait until the second trimester to try visiting the dentist.
By this time, your morning sickness will hopefully have subsided. During the second trimester it will still be comfortable to lie on your back, which is necessary for treatment.
Besides a check up for preventative work and necessary work, you should postpone other dental work until you have safely delivered your child. However, intense dental work is sometimes unavoidable during pregnancy.
The primary concern with necessary treatments is the medication used during the treatment to relieve pain. These medications do cross the placenta after treatment and could potentially affect your baby.
There are conflicting studies about whether the most commonly used drug, Lidocaine, actually harms your unborn child. The best option during pregnancy is to take as little anesthesia as possible.
This will not be very much fun, but as it is necessary there is no way to get around it. You do not want to take so little medication that you are in severe pain during the procedure because the stress on your body can also adversely affect your child.
If you develop an infection you may have to take penicillin, amoxicillin, or clindamycin. These medications are considered to be safe during pregnancy.
On the other hand, x-rays should be avoided or postponed until after birth. X-rays are definitely helpful to dentists in finding things that are not immediately visible on the surface and in determining the extent of the damage.
Even though studies have found that a single diagnostic x-ray will not harm your unborn child, it is best not to take risks. If you enter your third trimester, it is best to avoid all types of dental treatment if possible.
This is due to the fact that the stress can cause you to enter labor early. In addition, lying on your back is not very comfortable.
Whether or not you attend the dentist as recommended, there are many things you can do to prevent the necessity of seeing the dentist. These things include eating healthily, brushing your teeth regularly with the right toothpaste twice a day, and flossing.
If you are planning on getting pregnant soon, try to schedule a visit to the dentist to get a complete examination and treatment. When you are pregnant, you can still safely get a cleaning to prevent infections and other complications later on when you should not receive treatment.
In addition, you should always let your dentist know that you are pregnant when you go in for a checkup, even if it is a simple cleaning. This will allow your dentist to plan accordingly if you need treatment and to avoid certain things he or she would normally do, but which may be unsafe for your fetus.
Anything that is unnecessary, such as teeth whitening, should be avoided. You do not want to put the risk of something going wrong or certain chemicals harming your child.
If your appointment is taking a long time, you will want to make sure you keep your circulation going by uncrossing your legs when you are lying in the chair. Move your toes up and down to keep the blood flowing.
You may even be able to take a pillow in for leg support if it is more comfortable. In addition, you may be able to bring in music to listen to on headphones if you find the dental procedure to be stressful in any way.
Jack Landry has authored hundreds of articles relating to general and cosmetic dentistry. He was a dental assistant specializing in dental implants Utah and has been a guest dental lecturer for over 15 years.
Contact Info:
Jack R. Landry
JackRLandry@gmail.com
http://www.dentalimplantsutah.net
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