Should You Get Dental Implants When Pregnant?

Pregnancy affects your oral health. Nevertheless, getting dental implants during pregnancy is not advisable as it can harm the fetus.

It is customary to consider everything you do to preserve your fetus’ health during pregnancy. What you eat, drink, and even your oral care are all essential. Your oral health is not only crucial to your health; it is vital to your baby’s health. Although you may want to continue with regular dental care, it is essential to note that not all dental procedures are risk-free for expectant mothers. Kindly read further to discover why some dental procedures are unsafe when you expect them.

Dentists at Dentakay do not recommend getting dental implants during your first trimester. Although you may get the procedure safely during your second trimester, it is advisable to wait till after delivery. Furthermore, dental implants require invasive surgery, leading to bleeding and other complications. Other reasons why dental implants are not advisable in pregnancy include;

Before getting implants, your dentist will have to evaluate your oral health and take x-rays of your mouth. The x-ray helps your dentist evaluate important information like teeth position and bone density. Unfortunately, exposing an unborn baby to even a tiny amount of radiation can increase the risk of congenital and learning disabilities. Therefore, it is best to avoid the risk altogether.

Because of the invasiveness of the dental implant procedure, your dentist has to administer general anaesthesia to numb you to the pain. Local anaesthesia is safe during pregnancy, but dentists recommend general anaesthesia during the dental implant procedure. Unfortunately, general anaesthesia can induce miscarriage and increase infants' risk of premature birth or low birth weight.

The dental implant procedure is stressful, with most people getting nervous about the entire process. However, a high-stress level during pregnancy is not advisable as it can harm the fetus and cause gestational hypertension. Therefore, it is best to wait to get dental implants after pregnancy.

Before any procedure in dentistry, your dentist will weigh the benefits and risks. Dental implants are an elective treatment. But sometimes, the benefits may outweigh the risk. For example, suppose your tooth is infected during pregnancy. In that case, the risk of delaying treatment is higher than the risk of going ahead with the surgery. So, when your dentist examines your oral health, you may need to get implants during pregnancy.

Although a dental implant procedure is not advisable in pregnancy, there are cases where it is essential to get implants. For instance, you might require the extraction of a severely decayed tooth. You may not need implants immediately if the extracted tooth is at the back of your mouth and is not visible. But if the extracted tooth is a front tooth, you may want to get replacement teeth. Your dentist may then carry out your dental implant procedure under local anaesthesia if you are in your second trimester or beyond.

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Although your dentist can safely carry out a dental implant procedure with local anaesthesia during your second trimester, it is not advisable. This is because pregnancy compromises your oral health, increasing your risk of developing infections and implant failure. Furthermore, some antibiotics are unsafe during pregnancy. And if you have an infection, it can be excruciating. Also, you may be unable to take prescription medications or over-the-counter pain relievers. Pain from an infection can then lead to anxiety. And anxiety is not safe for expectant mothers or their fetuses. Therefore, it is best to wait till after your pregnancy before getting a dental implant.

If you must get implants during pregnancy, you must prepare for them. During your second trimester, your dentist will evaluate your oral health to see if you need a bone graft before the implants. Fortunately, x-rays are considered safe during this stage of your pregnancy. Oral health is a critical factor in qualifying for dental implants. So, while waiting for your surgery, maintain good oral hygiene for you and your fetus’ health. Regular brushing and flossing are crucial. Also, visit the dentist for regular cleanings and examinations. Your dentist can easily identify problems with your oral health and treat them promptly during regular exams.

A healthy mouth is crucial to your baby’s health. Therefore, brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and floss once daily. In addition, eat a balanced diet, and even if you snack, do so in moderation. Furthermore, visit your dentist regularly for oral checkups. Your dentist may recommend an antimicrobial mouth rinse to help you control plaque buildup.

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A typical oral hygiene routine requires brushing twice daily and flossing at least once. If you already do this, there is no need to change your daily habits. Otherwise, start observing proper oral hygiene to keep your baby safe. Unhealthy habits can cause premature delivery or miscarriage.

Morning sickness can happen at any time of the day. And vomiting brings stomach acids to your mouth. These acids then attack the teeth, degrading them. So after vomiting, it's essential to rinse your mouth. You can squish a baking soda solution in your mouth and wait 30 minutes before brushing. To prepare the solution, combine a teaspoon of baking soda with warm water.

Your oral health is vital during pregnancy. But because of hormonal changes in pregnancy, there is an increased risk of developing dental problems. Therefore, it is advisable to wait till after pregnancy to get dental implants. But suppose you must get implants. In that case, the ideal course is to go to visit an experienced dentist for a safe procedure.