Dental Care for Pregnant Patients: Improving General Wellness
Here at the Cosmetic Dentistry Institute, we have helped countless patients in and around Troy achieve excellent dental health. This is because of our belief in comprehensive general dentistry that enhances total wellness. General dental care is especially important to consider for pregnant women, for as you are about to read, dental health and total wellness are interlinked.
Why Good Dental Health Matters for Pregnant Women
Studies have shown that women who experience gum disease during pregnancy run a higher risk of experiencing premature birth and other issues. This is makes sense to a degree given that gum disease is often the sign of another health issue. Conversely, your dental health can also have an affect on your general wellness.
Given this, it's important that patients be in good dental health leading into pregnancy and remain as healthy as possible to ensure a pregnancy that is as problem-free as possible.
Dental Care Before You Become Pregnant
If you are working on getting pregnant with your partner or with a fertility specialist, it's generally a good idea to get your general health and dental health checked. This will allow you to get any major procedures performed prior to getting pregnant and to find out what you can do to be your healthiest during pregnancy.
Dental Care During Pregnancy
When women are pregnant, they should attend their routine dental visits as scheduled. During these visits, it's a good idea to mention any supplements or medications you may be on during your pregnancy as this can help inform your dentist about potential issues to consider.
For the most part, major dental treatments will be avoided during a woman's pregnancy, postponed until after she has given birth. Major dental therapies will only be performed if there is a major dental health emergency that needs to be addressed.
Avoiding Dental X-rays During Pregnancy for Safety
During a woman's pregnancy, dentists will avoid taking dental x-rays in order to ensure the safety of the mother and the developing child. Even though radiation exposure is minimal during modern dental x-rays, it's best to err on the side of caution.
The only time that x-rays will be taken is if there is a major dental health emergency that must be addressed. Should this occur, all precautions will be made to make sure that there is as little radiation exposure as possible.
Dental Care After Childbirth
After a woman has given birth, normal dental care can resume as needed. This means that any postponed procedures can be performed. Patients should still commit themselves to proper preventative and at-home care.
When to Bring Your Child to the Dentist for the First Time
It's usually ideal to bring your child in for his or her first dentist visit within six months of the emergence of the first tooth. This will allow a pediatric/family dentist to note any health issues that may be present early in the child's development and to provide tips for dental care and proper hygiene that parents can use to keep their child's smile healthy for years and years to come.
Schedule a Consultation at the Cosmetic Dentistry Institute
If you would like more information about improving and maintaining your dental health to ensure total wellness, be sure to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. We at the Cosmetic Dentistry Institute look forward to your visit.