What dental treatments are safe when you’re pregnant

Unfortunately, being pregnant doesn’t shield you from everyday health concerns and tooth pain in pregnancy isn’t uncommon. It’s important you continue to visit the dentist during your pregnancy because your oral condition could change during pregnancy. Changes in hormonal levels can in fact cause swelling and irritation to the gums, which can put you at higher risk of gum disease or infection.  Whether you’ve got an emergency dentist appointment or your routine check up, it’s crucial you attend, because many dental issues that arise during pregnancy are in fact preventable. 

Let’s talk about visiting the dentist while pregnant, what is safe and what treatments you will need to avoid. It’s important to remember to let your dentist know you’re pregnant when you visit for your next appointment, as they may adjust their advice or be able to offer more tips for you. 

What treatments are safe during pregnancy? 

Firstly routine appointments such as dental check ups and hygiene appointments are considered extremely safe and are recommended during pregnancy. 

Whilst this may sound a bit risky, dental X-rays while pregnant are safe because they do not expose other parts of your body to radiation, and use a much lower level of radiation in comparison to say, a full body X-ray. Extra precaution is often taken when needed if you are having X-rays while pregnant. 

You may be wondering whether you can have more intrusive dental treatment, like a root canal while pregnant. It might be that you are surprised with the answer. Treatments such as fillings, dental crowns, root canals and even tooth extractions are deemed safe during pregnancy. This is because the dangers of dental work while pregnant are extremely low with the proper procedure, however your dentist may suggest waiting until a certain trimester for specific treatments. While your dentist may give you the option of waiting for certain treatments that are not urgent, treatments such as a dental crown or filling may be suggested to lower your risk of infection. 

If you have a toothache while pregnant or perhaps you experience loose teeth during pregnancy it’s important not to panic and visit your dentist as you usually would as they will be able to support you with a range of treatment whilst still pregnant. 

Now, what dental treatments show you avoid when pregnant? 

This is typically an easy answer, you should be avoiding any elective, cosmetic treatment. This is to avoid any dangers of dental work while pregnant, whether it be because it would cause you stress, or simply because it’s exposing the baby to unsafe chemicals. Things like teeth whitening while pregnant is typically hard no when you speak to any dentist.  

It’s important to remain calm during pregnancy and not to put too much stress on yourself, so be sure to talk through your comfort levels with your dentist. For those who are nervous when visiting the dentist, be sure to communicate this, as it will make your experience much easier. 

Remember if you’re worried about your oral health during pregnancy speak to your dentist, you may have heard horror stories about losing teeth during pregnancy for example, but it’s important to get the right care and right information. If you haven’t already got a dentist, make sure you sign up with one! You can simply do a google search for ‘dentist near me’ , do a little research on your options and then get yourself booked in. 

We hope this has shed some light on common treatments at the dentist and pregnancy!