Is It Safe to Get Dental Work During Pregnancy? What Expectant Mothers in the UK Should Know

While certain procedures might be best avoided until after your baby has arrived, there are some treatments that will be perfectly safe, and could even help to protect your child’s life.

To help you to feel more confident, we’re sharing some essential information that you should be aware of during pregnancy. You should never neglect your oral health due to pregnancy, and don’t assume that all issues can wait until after your baby is born. It’s far better to address any issues you might be facing so that your dentist can help guide you through the best possible treatment plan.

Your oral health during pregnancy

Changes to your hormones during pregnancy can have a significant impact on your oral health. Secondary risk factors like gestational diabetes can also have an impact on your teeth and gums.

You will be at increased risk of gum disease due to hormonal changes. This can lead to bleeding gums and damage to the supportive bone and tissue that holds teeth in place.

Your oral health is also linked to your wider health, and this can have an impact on your child. A link has been found between patients with gum disease and pre-term labour in addition to low birth weight.

In contrast, there is a low risk associated with visiting the dentist during pregnancy. We may need to make adjustments to your care, or we may need to delay certain treatments until after birth, but in general it is safe to visit the dentist when you are pregnant.

Dental visits during pregnancy

As soon as you know you are pregnant, we recommend arranging a dental checkup to make sure your oral health is a priority. This can help to identify any minor issues that could become worse during pregnancy. Catching these early will help to avoid having to have longer procedures when this could be more uncomfortable for you.

As your pregnancy progresses, you might find that sitting in the dentist’s chair is too uncomfortable. We can adjust the position to put less pressure on your back and ensure both you and baby are not in any distress.

There are some things that we might not be able to do when you are pregnant. This includes things like X-rays and dental sedation. We’ll work with you to find a suitable outcome that will protect your oral health without putting your baby in harm’s way.

Issues to look out for during pregnancy

Many women develop a condition known as gestational diabetes. This is essential diabetes that is linked to your pregnancy. It often goes away once the baby is born. It can have an impact on your oral health by increasing glucose levels in your saliva.

This feeds bacteria in your mouth and makes inflammation and gum disease more likely to occur. This inflammation can pass into your blood, impacting your immune system and making it more difficult for your body to manage blood sugar levels.

To avoid this, you need to pay close attention to your oral health during pregnancy. Make sure you brush your teeth twice a day, and perhaps more if you are suffering from morning sickness.

Cavities and tooth decay can spread quickly, so it’s important to continue with your dental checkups. Treatment in the first and second trimester might be easily carried out, but treatment in the third trimester carries more risk. Your dentist might refer you to the hospital for more serious treatment like emergency extractions, as this will allow them to monitor the baby with ease.

Your dentist might also advise waiting for the baby to arrive, if there isn’t a wider risk to your health. For cosmetic procedures, your dentist is likely to ask that you wait for the baby to arrive before getting started. If you’re already in the middle of orthodontic treatment, this can often continue without concern, but your checkup appointments will need to be adapted to ensure you are comfortable – particularly in the third trimester.

If you are nervous about treatment during pregnancy, this is understandable. We will help to support you every step of the way so you can protect your oral health and protect your baby.