Having learned the great news that in 9 months a woman will become a mother does not mean at all that now she will be able to visit the dentist only after the birth of the baby. Although, some expectant mothers believe that with dental treatment it is necessary to wait until the baby is born. But in reality, the expectant mother needs to act the other way around, she should more closely monitor her oral cavity, namely her teeth.
What causes teeth to deteriorate in pregnant women?
Pregnancy is the most wonderful period in the life of every woman. He is overwhelmed with positive emotions, joy and the expectation of a small miracle. However, during this period of life, all the forces of the female body are directed towards the intrauterine development of the baby. As a rule, this primarily affects the health of the teeth.
Why teeth are the first to suffer during pregnancy? This is because tooth enamel consists of a large amount of minerals, and the main one among them is calcium. The daily requirement for this mineral during pregnancy rises to 1500 mg. Calcium is a building material for all body tissues growing in the womb. As a rule, the future baby is saturated with calcium from the mother’s blood plasma . However, with its lack, the mechanisms for delivering the required amount of calcium from the mother’s bone tissue are turned on. As you know, in a more accessible form, calcium is found precisely in the teeth and therefore they are the main source that serves to replenish the useful reserves of the future baby’s body.
Another equally important factor is the change in the functions of the salivary gland. One of them is the delivery of additional phosphorus and calcium to the teeth, washing them and thus strengthening them. During pregnancy, its composition changes, its protective properties deteriorate, which causes the formation of caries.
When is it better for a pregnant woman to treat her teeth?
The gestation period is divided into three trimesters. During the first trimester, all organs and systems of the unborn baby are laid. Expectant mothers often have early toxicosis, and the fetus becomes more dependent on the nervous state of the mother. Therefore, at this stage of pregnancy, dental treatment can cause discomfort not only to the expectant mother, but also to the fetus. Thus, it is better to refuse this procedure in the early stages of pregnancy.
In the second trimester, this is from 14 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, all organs and systems of the unborn child develop. Toxicosis has already been left behind, therefore gynecologists recommend doing dental treatment at this stage of pregnancy.
In the last trimester, fetal organs are prepared for independent functioning, and excessive overstrain of a pregnant woman can cause premature birth. Therefore, doctors do not recommend treating teeth during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Of course, there are situations when you just need to see a dentist at any of these stages. This may be caused by acute pain or swelling. In this case, there is no need to delay treatment, this will help to avoid complications.
Can pregnant women have teeth treated with anesthesia?
Most women ask themselves whether it is possible to do dental treatment during pregnancy with anesthesia. In this case, an important condition is that the expectant mother should not feel strong emotional overstrain. Sometimes there are situations when you can refuse from pain relief. However, if anesthesia is unavoidable, then there is no reason to worry. Today modern dentistry has a wide range of anesthetics. Usually, they contain a vasoconstrictor (adrenaline), which prolongs its action for up to 2-3 hours. Pregnant women are advised to use anesthesia without adrenaline. Since it enhances the activity of the mother’s heart, which in the future can provoke the appearance of complications, in particular, uterine hypertonicity . In addition, the method of dental treatment under anesthesia is popular today, although it is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women.