Having Dental Work While Pregnant

Is It Safe to Have Dental Work Performed While Pregnant?

Expectant moms have a lot of questions, and one common question is whether or not it is safe to have dental work done while pregnant. Annual exams and preventive dental cleanings during pregnancy are safe and often recommended by doctors and dentists alike. This is due to the rise in hormone levels that women experience during pregnancy, which can cause their gums to bleed, swell, and trap food, which can in turn cause additional or increased irritation in the mouth and gums. This is why preventive dental work is essential to help avoid oral infections while with child.

While regular cleanings and check-ups are safe during pregnancy, there are some questions as to whether other dental procedures, such as fillings and crowns, can be performed in a harmless manner while mothers are pregnant. Generally, the safest course of action is for mothers to postpone any unnecessary dental work until after the child is born, but should a crown or filling need to be completed before this time comes, the second trimester is often the most ideal time – by the time mothers reach the third trimester, it may be too difficult for them to lie on their backs.

In some cases, emergency dental work, such as tooth extractions or root canals, needs to be considered and completed during a woman’s pregnancy given the recommendations of her dentist. Other than these emergency procedures, all other elective procedures, such as teeth whitening and cosmetic work, should be postponed until after the child is born. This helps prevent exposing the unborn child to any risks, even if these risks are considered minimal.

Mothers also typically have questions about the effects that different medications used during dental procedures can have on them and their child. There are currently conflicting studies surrounding this issue and the possibility of these medications having adverse effects on developing babies. Lidocaine, a common drug used during dental work, has been known to pass through the placenta and have some effect on unborn children. Additionally, if anesthesia needs to be used during a dental procedure, it should be used in the smallest amount possible while still making patients comfortable in order to reduce stress on the mother and the unborn child.

If you feel you need to have dental work completed as soon as possible, you can sign up for our New Hampshire Family Discount Dental Plan and save as much as 20 percent on your dental bills. For more information, please click here. We also offer Employee Discount Dental Plans for business owners offering dental to their employees.

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