Dentist during pregnancy - truth and myths

Dentist during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have not had your teeth treated in time, don't delay. Healthy teeth and gums are important not only for you, but also for your baby. Bacteria spread with the blood throughout the body and through the placenta reach the foetus. They can cause intrauterine infections and serious complications.

It is estimated that approximately 18% of preterm and low birth weight births are related to periodontal disease and inflammatory conditions of the mother's mouth. Therefore, correct prevention and treatment are of particular importance.

Do teeth deteriorate more during pregnancy?

Deterioration of the teeth during pregnancy is mainly hormonal. The concentration of hormones increases the permeability of capillaries, which leads to gum pulsation and bleeding. Pain and swelling cause that we brush our teeth gently and less carefully. Food and blood residues remain in the interdental spaces, which are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Plaque and tartar develop, and then it is the shortest way to the development of caries.
Increase in carious lesions during pregnancy is mainly due to negligence in oral hygiene, increased appetite and frequent eating of high-carbohydrate foods.
So the problem is not that the developing child deprives the mother of valuable minerals. Demineralization of the enamel is more an effect of vomiting, which occurs in the early stages of pregnancy in more than half of the women. The impact of low pH gastric juice unfortunately has an adverse effect on the hard tissues of the teeth.

Can teeth be treated during pregnancy?

If visits are planned, it is better to go to the dentist in the second trimester of pregnancy. Of course, in this case we are not talking about acute conditions that require immediate action. Inflammation of the gums, periosteum or abscesses can endanger the baby, cause miscarriage or premature birth.
Similarly, a tooth that needs root canal treatment cannot be left behind. If we do not get rid of the infection, we will lead to the spread of inflammation. In dentistry, endometers are used for root canal treatment, which allow us to measure the length of the canal and its filling without taking X-rays.

Tooth x-ray

Especially in the first trimester, radiation can have harmful effects on the foetus. Fortunately, today's digital techniques make it possible to reduce radiation to a minimum. Therefore, if an x-ray of the tooth becomes necessary, digital radiography can be performed.

Anaesthesia at the dentist during pregnancy

Anaesthesia in pregnancy. Certainly treatment under general anaesthesia should not be performed. The use of local anaesthetics in pregnant women is safe. The pregnant woman should inform the doctor of this fact, and an appropriate anaesthetic is then selected. For pregnant women, anaesthesia without vasoconstrictors is used.

Professional teeth cleaning

It is also recommended during pregnancy. Hygienization procedures - removal of deposit, plaque and tartar protects against bacterial growth and caries formation. You can choose from scalers, sanders, polishing brushes and none of the methods has a negative impact on the foetus.

Teeth whitening

In pregnant women it is not advisable due to the lack of studies on the safety of this treatment in pregnancy.