Every expecting mother has questions about seeing their orthodontist while being pregnant. Dental cleanings and annual exams are recommended during pregnancy. While you’re pregnant your hormone levels increase, which causes your gums to swell up, bleed and collect food in your gums that can cause irritation and could lead to infections if untreated.
Dental Work During Pregnancy
To help reduce the risk of getting any infections, it’s important to treat any cavity and crowns. It’s recommended to get dental work done during the second trimester because once you get into your third trimester, it’s going to be difficult for you to lay on your back for long periods of time. If any major dental work must be done, try to postpone it after births.
Medications That Are Used During Dental Work
When you are expecting, it’s important to let Beauty Smile Orthodontics know you are pregnant, so they can give you a different type of medicine when working on your teeth. Some medicines that the dentist use can cause conflicting effects on the developing baby. Lidocaine is the most common drug used during dental work, it does cross the placenta after administration. Little anesthesia should be given as little as possible, but still enough to make you feel comfortable. If you are experiencing pain, make sure you request additional numbing.
When seeing your orthodontist at Beauty Smile, make sure you speak up before they start working on your teeth. It’s important to tell them if you are expecting, so they can make sure you are comfortable as possible.