Dental management of pregnant patient

Oral manifestations such as decayed teeth , altered taste sensation , dry mouth , bleeding gums , burning tongue etc are common in pregnant females during 1st & 3rd trimester.

Physiologic changes during pregnancy include weight gain, positional hypotension when placed supine, a frequent need to urinate, restricted respiratory function, and a potential for hypoglycemia. Morning sickness is also common that includes nausea and altered taste sensation. 

Pregnancy may intensify the stress and anxiety of a dental appointment. 

Dental care during pregnancy should make accommodations for these changes through short appointments, avoidance of prolonged supine positioning, clear oral hygiene instructions, and judicious use of radiographs.

Drug therapy during pregnancy should aim to avoid adverse drug reactions to either the mother or the fetus. Hypersensitivity, allergy, or toxicity reactions by the mother may compromise her health and limit her ability to support a pregnancy. Adverse drug effects specific to the health of the fetus may include congenital defects, miscarriage, delivery complications, low birth weight, and postnatal drug dependence. These effects are usually specific to the timing of drug administration during pregnancy (ie, first, second, or third trimester), the dose given, and the duration of therapy. 

Compared to many medical therapies, dental treatment generally involves use of drugs with short elimination half-lives, which are administered for limited periods of time and are, therefore, less likely to cause complications.

Dental treatments during pregnancy include deep scaling , fillings , root canals , decayed tooth extractions. 

If you or your family member who is pregnant wants to undergo dental treatments schedule a video consultation with a oral medicine expert or click on the Whatspp icon to initiate the chat.