The myth is that pregnant women can not get dental work done as it can harm the baby.
That used to be the case 50 years ago but modern dental techniques are so noninvasive that they do not cause any harm to the baby.
I see at least one pregnant woman in my practice every week, who has been turned away from several offices and has been told that she needs to wait until after the baby is delivered to get treatment.
Some of these women are in a lot of pain.
I do not recommend an expecting mom to be in discomfort during her pregnancy.
God know she has so many other things to worry about.
As long as the OB/GYN has no concerns about the mother's and/or baby's health, an expectant mom should be able to get the same dental treatment as any other person.
Here are some recommendations: -Pregnancy hormones cause most women to develop gum disease.
This is why I usually recommend getting a cleaning every 3 months as opposed to every 6 months.
-X-rays are completely safe, especially digital X-rays since the radiation dosage is extremely low.
I recommend my patients wear a double lead apron just as an added measure.
-Brush and floss regularly.
The increased frequency of eating during the third trimester can cause cavities.
-Get all your dental treatment before the baby comes.
After the baby, life will get so busy that you may not have enough time or there may be no one to watch the baby.
- If you develop bleeding gums during and/or after pregnancy then let your dentist know since you may have gum disease.
Pregnancy changes your life.
It also changes your dental health.
Dr's orders: Seek proper dental care during pregnancy, it could prevent a lot of future dental problems.