Dental surgery and Pregnancy.

Patients are naturally concerned about the health of their baby and do not want to risk anything during pregnancy. However, it’s also important that they do not neglect their oral health during pregnancy. The likelihood of  dental surgery  when you’re pregnant brings up a lot of questions. The most important thing is to take every possible precaution when you’re pregnant as protecting your child’s health is essential. Having dental radiographs taken and undergoing procedures that rely on local anesthesia, is safe at any point during pregnancy. However, most kinds of oral surgery procedure requires sedatives or anesthetic. They might be a benefit to the patient but can negatively affect the unborn child’s health.  Dental extraction , root canals or restorations can be safely performed during pregnancy. 

An oral surgery would be performed in extreme cases if the case poses a health threat to the mother. Periodontal conditions are often aggravated during pregnancy because of the increased inflammatory and immune body response. And often due to lack of information many dentists are hesitant to provide dental treatment to pregnant women. But preventive and restorative dental treatment is safe during pregnancy. One of the most common questions asked about oral surgery and pregnancy is: Is it safe? 

Is dental service safe during pregnancy? 

Dental work while pregnancy can be important for keeping both you and your baby healthy. Protecting the health of your unborn baby is the top most priority which means planning a surgical procedure requires careful thought. Most dental surgeries are minor, and the procedures can be postponed until after the patient has given birth. But what about oral conditions requiring immediate treatment? Periodontal or endodontic treatment, restoration of untreated caries or tooth extraction in pregnancy can be managed at any time during the time. But there are few things you need to think over. 

Does it matter what trimester I am in? 

Oral surgery is most likely to be performed when the patient is in her first or second trimester of pregnancy that doesn’t require the patient to be sedated. Once the third trimester starts, any surgery is risky. During this period, always account for the nature of the surgery that is immediately necessary and try to postpone the procedure until after the baby is born. If absolutely necessary diagnostic radiographs may be performed after the first trimester. Analgesics (such as paracetamol) and anesthetics (such as lidocaine) are considered safe and in case of infection, antibacterial drugs like ampicillin, amoxicillin and some cephalosporins and macrolides can be prescribed. 

Is anesthesia safe during pregnancy? 

You can receive some local anesthetics like lidocaine for necessary treatment while you are pregnant that does not affect the baby. Other anesthetics, including oral sedation and general anesthesia, are not recommended during pregnancy as it may make you unconscious, drowsy and less anxious. When apportioning local anesthesia to a pregnant patient, oral surgeons use as little medication as possible, but enough to keep the pain under control. 

Are x-rays safe during pregnancy? 

Yes, it’s safe to get an X-ray. X-rays are essential in diagnosing oral and jaw health problems to pinpoint what procedures are needed as there are often issues below the surface of the teeth. Fortunately, there is no single diagnostic use of X-rays that have enough radiation levels to harm a developing baby when the appropriate shielding is used as precaution.