Is Oral Surgery Safe During Pregnancy?

Between all the family visits, doctor checkups and day-to-day hassles that come along with being pregnant, one has to wonder: is oral surgery safe to perform while carrying an unborn child? The short answer is yes, most definitely. Oral surgery is safe to perform while pregnant, but it is not recommended in some cases. Although it is encouraged for women to get dental care while pregnant because it is a crucial development period for oral health and can be directly related to continual overall healthiness for both mother and baby, oral surgery may be a bit overboard for many reasons. While pregnant, there are some things to know beforehand about oral surgery.

Talking to a doctor

The first order of business is to let your doctor know that you are pregnant. This will let your doctor evaluate your mouth extra carefully, as certain treatments are actually recommended to be postponed until after pregnancy. Pregnant women are more prone to cavities for a number of reasons. Due to the additional carbohydrates, most mothers eat while feeding two, this can cause additional bacteria and infection to enter the mouth. The morning sickness often associated with pregnancy can also increase the amount of acid your mouth is exposed to. In the long run, this acid can actually destroy your enamel, the outer covering of your teeth.

Dangers of sedation

Although dental checkups are recommended while pregnant, they do not require any sort of sedatives or anesthetic. While you are pregnant, the most important thing is to take every precaution possible to ensure that your child is born healthy and without any issues. Harder oral surgeries that require any sedative or anesthetic can be particularly harmful to the unborn child. Lighter oral surgeries that do not require numbing are recommended and safe while pregnant.

When is oral surgery safe?

The first and second trimesters of pregnancy are generally the safest to perform oral surgeries. Anything past the third trimester is generally avoided unless absolutely necessary. This goes for all surgeries in general, not just those taking place in the mouth. Always take into account the nature of the surgery itself. Even though a patient could be only in the first trimester, if the surgery requires heavy sedation due to the weight of the patient, it might be better to postpone the operation until the baby is born to avoid any chance of passing on ill effects. X-rays are vital in diagnosing oral and jaw-related health problems, as there are often issues below the surface of the teeth. Luckily, there is no diagnostic use of X-rays that have radiation levels high enough to harm a developing baby when the appropriate shielding is used for precaution.

In a perfect world, any oral surgeries would be done before pregnancy. If you believe you will be pregnant in the near future, this is the perfect time to get corrections to your teeth done.

Are you considering oral surgery in the Sterling area? Get more oral surgery information at https://www.titandentalcare.com.

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