Dental
check-ups are essential for everyone and people of all ages. Pregnancy does not
stop a woman to get dental treatments and prevent her from dental check-ups. In
general, pregnant women should visit a dentist to check their mouth.
This
is because the hormone changes occurring inside a woman's body during pregnancy
period are indirectly related to certain oral health complications. Hence it is
better to consult your Dentist at regular intervals during the Pregnancy.
Many
people believe that dental treatments will harm the baby inside the womb. It is
one of the myths regarding oral care treatments. In this post, Dr. Hussain Al
Saleh, a renowned Dentist in Dubai has shared the common dental health problems
for pregnant women and the appropriate dental treatments for pregnant women.
What are the dental diseases that arise during Pregnancy?
As
mentioned earlier, the hormone modifications during the pregnancy make a woman
vulnerable to certain dental health risks. They are as follows:
Pregnancy
Gingivitis – Gingivitis is a common gum disease. It makes the
gums bleed when you brush and floss. Pregnant women are prone to this disease
which irritates and cause swelling to the gums.
Tooth
Decay – Teeth Decay or Dental Caries which is caused by
weakening of the teeth enamel is another complication in this period. Morning
sickness which is common in pregnant women accelerates the level of acid in the
mouth. It leads to an acidic attack on the teeth followed by enamel damage and
causes decayed tooth.
Pregnancy
Tumors – During the second trimester, the chances are
higher for excess growth of tissues that cause pregnancy tumors in the gum
region. This would cause plaque and deteriorate the gum region.
Is it safe for a pregnant woman to get oral treatments?
Yes.
Definitely. The above-mentioned diseases will cause serious hazards if they are
not treated at times. Certain oral care treatments are mandatory to avert these
diseases.
Here
are the important oral care treatments that are considered harmful during
pregnancy but they are actually not:
Anesthetic
Oral
care treatments and procedures like Root Canal Therapy, Extraction teeth, and
some others are handled with anesthetics in order to numb the mouth until the
procedure is finished.
It
is essential to tell the dentist about the pregnancy earlier. It will help
him/her to adjust the concentration of the local anesthetics. This is because
certain anesthetics that contain felypressin should not be used for pregnant
women.
Researches
show that local anesthetics used in the dental treatments for pregnant women do
not affect the pregnancy outcomes.
Teeth Extraction
Treatments
like wisdom teeth extraction, extracting cavity teeth are required to protect
our dental health from further bacterial infections.
In
general, a pregnant woman can extract her diseased tooth in the second
trimester period. Dentists recommend this period to pull off a tooth because it
avoids the exposure of x-rays to the baby in its initial stage of development
(i.e.) first trimester period.
Root Canal Therapy
RootCanal Treatment (RCT) which involves removing the diseased or infected tissues
in the nerve endings of a tooth. The second trimester is the right time to get
the endodontic treatments because it involves x-rays to examine the location of
the infection.
Teeth Whitening
It
is better to avoid cosmetic dental treatment to whiten our teeth and restore
the natural smile, especially during the trimester period. This is because the
whitening gels and other products may aggravate the health of the pregnant woman.
Orthodontic Treatments
Straightening
teeth with dental braces do not cause any effect to the baby in the womb.
If
a pregnant woman has worn the orthodontic braces before getting pregnant,
stopping the orthodontic treatment will not be needed. In contrast,
Orthodontists do not recommend dental braces for pregnant women who are in the
first trimester period.
The
reason is the woman may encounter changes in her face and mouth in that period.
It makes her adjust the orthodontic wire often or customize the brace as per
the changes. It is quite expensive.
Conclusion
The
untreated oral diseases will affect the health of the woman as well as the baby
in her womb. Hence the woman should take care of her dental health to protect
her unborn baby. Efficient dental hygiene routine and regular dental check-ups
during pregnancy will help such women to avert oral hazards.
