Pregnant women’s emotions are not easy to control. If a good medical-patient relationship can be established, the anxiety of pregnant women can be reduced. If necessary, it is better to consult with an obstetrician and gynecologist before going to the dentist.
The following are some of the dental questions that mothers-to-be often ask, and we are here to clear your doubts.
1. Must dental problems be taken care of before pregnancy?
Before you get pregnant, you should establish a healthy oral environment, ask your dentist about the correct brushing method (use the Bechtel brushing method to avoid horizontal “sawing” of teeth), flossing to remove plaque, and regular dental cleaning. Brush your teeth carefully and treat the cavities in your mouth so that you will not be more reluctant to go to the dentist when you are pregnant, thus delaying the time to treat the cavities and increasing the chance of tooth damage after delivery.
2.Will taking X-rays during dental treatment of pregnant women cause any harm to the fetus?
Generally speaking, as long as the total exposure does not exceed 5 to 10 rads, there will be no congenital malformation. The dose of dental radiation is 0.004 rads for a full-mouth cephalic radiograph and only 0.00001 rads for a full-mouth 14-slit apical radiograph, plus the fact that lead suits are used to protect the pregnant woman and her fetus every time she is exposed to x-rays. Moreover, the dentist only irradiates when necessary for treatment, so there is no need to worry about safety. However, Jianzhou here still want to remind the dental warriors working in the front line of the clinic, for pregnant women in the first trimester, or as little as possible or even not to take X-rays after all, once the child is born with some such and such a small problem, the patient is not so much associated with the initial dental care caused.
3.What should I do if I find out I have tooth decay after I am pregnant? Can I see a dentist during pregnancy?
Generally, simple scaling and filling can be treated during pregnancy, but if a pregnant woman is emotionally tense, she is more likely to have a miscarriage in the first trimester, and in the second trimester, she is more afraid of the pressure on the veins due to the supine position, so the prevention method is to take a rest when sitting up and avoid dizziness caused by sudden standing (due to postural hypotension). Most dental treatments (such as scaling, dental fillings, root canal treatment, etc.) can be done at this stage. However, dental surgery (such as periodontal flap deep treatment, wisdom tooth extraction, apical surgery) is recommended to be postponed until after delivery because of the long operation time and the emotional stress caused to the pregnant woman.
4.Can pregnant women take drugs for dental treatment? Will anesthesia cause any harm to the fetus? (debatable)
(1) Antibiotics: Except for tetracycline, chloramphenicol and streptomycin, generally speaking, dental antibiotics are safe for pregnant women. Because the infection may cause bacteremia or sepsis, which is more harmful to the fetus than antibiotics passing through the placenta to the fetus, they are still recommended for pregnant women if necessary. Painkillers: Commonly used painkillers, such as aspirin and Prilosec, have so far been determined to be safe by obstetricians and gynecologists; narcotic painkillers (e.g. morphine) will not cause permanent damage to the fetus, but will depress the central nervous system and, with long-term use, can cause addiction, although dentists will not prescribe them.
(2) Anesthetics: Dental local anesthetics can be used safely as long as the dosage is not excessive. In particular, Bilamat is relatively safer.
5.Can I brush my teeth during the month?
It is definitely not scientific not to brush your teeth during the whole 30 days of the month! Once the plaque calcifies and forms calculus, there is no way to remove it by brushing, you must use the power of ultrasonic vibration to remove the calculus. The plaque (including food residues, bacteria and their secretions) attached to the tooth surface must be removed by brushing.
6.When is the best time for a pregnant woman to see a dentist?
For the comfort of pregnant women and the safety of dental treatment, it is best to avoid treatment during the early and late stages of pregnancy, and to ask the dentist for temporary and less strenuous treatment if there is any dental discomfort. If necessary, treatment can be done in the middle of pregnancy. If dental treatment is necessary, please relax and feel at ease because the dentist will assess the necessity of the treatment and minimize the exposure to X-rays and unnecessary medications and infections.
(1) The first trimester of pregnancy (1 to 3 months): Sometimes the pregnant woman is not aware of this in the early stages of pregnancy, and this is also the trimester when the important organs of the fetus (arms and legs, cerebrospinal nervous system, teeth) are formed, if you take improper drugs or receive too large a dose of radiation at this time, it may cause the threat of spontaneous abortion, and may also form a deformed child. Therefore, most dentists only deal with emergency treatment at this time and will not make too drastic treatment.
(2) Second trimester (4-6 months): Dental treatment that is not too invasive can be done, and with proper protection (wearing a lead suit) X-rays can also be irradiated.
(3) Third trimester (7 to 9 months): This period is only suitable for emergency treatment, and it is important to avoid maintaining the head-down position for too long to avoid postural hypotension when sitting up suddenly.
(4) Breastfeeding: Breast milk is very good for the health of the child, but because many drugs are secreted through breast milk and ingested by the baby, it is important to inform the physician if you are breastfeeding. If you have to use drugs, it is best to take the drugs and breastfeeding time interval of more than 4 hours, reduce the dose of drugs in breast milk, or even sacrifice breastfeeding to avoid affecting the baby.
7, the mother-to-be to have a good tooth method
The mother should take sufficient nutrition during pregnancy, vegetables, fruits, rice, fish, meat, eggs and milk should be taken in a balanced way in order to supply the fetus with the calcium, phosphorus and vitamins needed for its teeth. Especially calcium (e.g. milk, small fish, etc.) not only helps the fetus develop and build strong teeth, but also maintains the mother’s own health. It is also important to pay more attention to oral hygiene during pregnancy than usual.
It is best to get into the habit of regular checkups before pregnancy. If you did not have a dental checkup before pregnancy, it is best to find time for a dental checkup and cleaning in the middle of pregnancy to avoid serious tooth decay and periodontal disease in the mouth, and then seek treatment when more serious symptoms occur (such as causing toothache or physical discomfort), which would be worse for the fetus.