When you’re pregnant, living with an incomplete smile can lead to issues ranging from a lack of confidence in your appearance to difficulty eating the foods you love. At Precision Dentistry of Howard, we want you to feel good about the way you look and enjoy a better quality of life, but we also want you and your baby to remain safe, which is why it’s important to understand whether dental implants are a viable option during this time. Keep reading to learn the steps you can take to achieve a complete smile.
Why Might a Dentist Not Recommend Dental Implants During Pregnancy?
Everything you do while pregnant is often called into question by a medical professional. What you eat, how much you exercise, how much sleep you get, etc. The same goes for any procedures you might need. If you are missing one or more teeth, you may be considering dental implants, but are they safe? Most dentists agree that these prosthetics offer the best results, but placing them during pregnancy isn’t necessarily the safest option. Here’s why:
- You need X-rays during the planning process, which can expose your unborn child to unnecessary radiation exposure. Although radiographs have come a long way, they can still be problematic for pregnant women and their babies.
- It poses a potential risk for stress and high blood pressure. If this happens during a procedure, Dr. O’Donoghue will need to stop. Otherwise, it can decrease blood flow to the placenta and make it harder for your baby to receive oxygen.
- Your body goes through hormonal changes that can affect your immune system and oral health (an increased risk of gum disease), which can lead to dental implant failure if you’re not careful. During surgery, there is also a risk of infection due to prolonged healing.
What Can a Pregnant Woman Do?
Although receiving dental implants while pregnant is unlikely to occur, there are still things you can do to prepare for this treatment after your baby is born. You can:
- Continue to practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, and rinsing as instructed.
- Keep your regular dental checkups and cleanings with Dr. O’Donoghue and our team to ensure your mouth remains in the best possible shape for dental implants.
- Incorporate healthy foods into your diet that benefit not only you and your baby but also your smile.
By focusing on keeping your oral health in check during your pregnancy, you can set yourself up for greater success when it’s time to receive your dental implants.
About the Author
Dr. Craig O’Donoghue is a dental implant dentist with more than 25 years of experience. He completed the curriculum at the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute and has restored all types of smiles using everything from dental crowns to full-arch dental implant reconstruction. If you are interested in these permanent prosthetics but are currently pregnant, contact us at (920) 305-0607 to schedule an appointment to discuss your options with Dr. O’Donoghue.