Visiting The Dentist During Pregnancy

Keeping up regular dental appointments when expecting a child

Although some people seem to sail through pregnancy, for others it can be a struggle and functioning on a daily basis is about as ambitious as it is possible to be.

During this time, some things are likely to slip as you focus on your pregnancy and paying a visit to the dentist at this time may well be one thing that you might consider postponing until after the birth.

However, there are many good reasons why you should see the dentist, especially during pregnancy, when hormones change and gum disease is an increased threat to your oral health.

Is it safe to see the dentist?

One concern of many parents to be is the safety of the unborn child, especially if x-rays need to be taken. Over the years, x-rays have become more refined and a much lower dose of radiation is necessary than used to be the case. If the x-ray is just a part of your regular check up at the Clock Tower Dental Clinic, it can be postponed until after the birth if you wish. However, for necessary procedures such as root canal treatment, x-rays are essential and still safe.

The same can be said for local anaesthetics and if you need to have an invasive procedure, we will very likely need to numb the area. To date, there is no evidence of any negative effects for the child from routine dental aesthesia. It is also important to remember that poor oral health may also affect your general health, potentially creating additional challenges for the baby.

If you are thinking of starting a family

If you are planning to have a child, it is strongly advised that you make sure that your oral health is in the best of shape before you fall pregnant. We recommend visiting the Clock Tower Dental Clinic in Epsom for a thorough examination, and we would also recommend that you see the hygienist to have your teeth cleaned and gums checked too. In fact, the scale and polish performed by the hygienist is entirely non invasive and it may well be a good idea to have this done more regularly during your pregnancy in order to help keep gum disease at bay.

Once you become pregnant, it is important that you let us know this when you come for an appointment. This may affect certain decisions about medication and treatment to help us keep any risks to an absolute minimum.

Once you have had your child and have started to develop a manageable routine, any treatments that you have been delaying due to being pregnant should be carried out as soon as possible. Virtually no dental problem will get better on its own and early intervention nearly always produces a better outcome, and may even prevent the need to have a tooth extracted.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of dental care during pregnancy, our team are always happy to help you. You can call our Epsom based practice on 01372 720136 for more obligation-free information.