Is It Safe to Get Dental Filling While Pregnant?

Multiple studies conducted in America and globally have confirmed that dental health can adversely affect overall health. In addition, systemic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke are published as having links to your oral health. Therefore putting off dental visits to help maintain your oral health can adversely impact your overall health regardless of the time.

Dental clinics emphasize the importance of having a dental checkup for women planning to get pregnant and maintain the visits even during pregnancy. During pregnancy, hormonal changes in the body can cause pregnancy gingivitis, an infection of the gums resulting in premature birth and low birth weight.

Many pregnant women are reluctant to visit dentists during pregnancy because they are uncertain about their safety. Fortunately, dental visits are unlikely to cause any neonatal problems, and dentists recommend maintaining scheduled visits for dental exams and cleanings to pregnant women to ensure they are in optimal oral health.

Can Pregnant Women Visit Dentists?

If you are pregnant, you can consider visiting the dentist in Anchorage, AK, to receive dental treatments during an exciting moment because hormonal changes directly affect your oral health. Therefore you must remain determined to schedule dental visits because the hormonal changes can affect your and your baby’s overall health.

Familiar Dental Problems during Pregnancy

The pressures placed by pregnancy can make many women experience dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease. The problem is aggravated by hormonal changes making it essential for pregnant women to visit their dentist during pregnancy. Some familiar problems pregnant women experience during this time include the following:

• Tooth Decay: during pregnancy, women crave sugary foods, which makes them more prone to tooth decay.
• Tooth Wear: Morning sickness is a common problem among pregnant women who may also experience enamel erosion because the higher stomach acids erode the enamel. Pregnant women must not brush their teeth immediately after vomiting, instead rinsing their mouths with water and waiting 30 minutes before brushing. The waiting allows their teeth to remineralize following the acid attack before brushing.
• Pregnancy Gingivitis: the progesterone levels in pregnant women increase, resulting in pregnancy gingivitis. Gingivitis during pregnancy makes the gums more sensitive to dental plaque on your teeth. The symptoms of pregnancy gingivitis include swollen and tender gums, lousy breath, and bleeding. Good oral hygiene with exams and treatment from the Anchorage dentist can help alleviate the symptoms.
• Periodontal Disease: Chronic gingivitis progresses to periodontal disease, a severe infection of the gums resulting in damage to the bones supporting your teeth. The condition can cause your teeth to loosen over time and require extractions because of jawbone deterioration around the teeth. In addition, severe periodontitis is associated with premature birth and low birth weight making it essential to maintain gum health during pregnancy.

Getting Dental Fillings during Pregnancy

If you have a cavity in your tooth, you can receive dental fillings while pregnant. Like most dental procedures, the dental filling placement process is painless because of local anesthesia, which your dentist will administer. However, they recommend scheduling your treatment during your second or early third trimester after your morning sickness, and nausea have settled.

If you need a dental filling, it is best that you schedule an appointment with the cosmetic dentist nearby to receive tooth-colored composite resin fillings instead of silver amalgam because they don’t impact your smile. However, it helps if you inform your dentist about your pregnancy to ensure they treat the affected tooth safely.

Maintaining a Healthy Mouth during Pregnancy

Oral health and regular dental cleanings become incredibly important during pregnancy. Below are some excellent methods to maintain a healthy mouth during this exhilarating moment.

• Excellent Dental Hygiene: Brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily helps maintain excellent dental hygiene. The practice helps keep your teeth and gums healthy by removing dental plaque effectively. In addition, it helps if you use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your gums gently instead of using a hard-bristled toothbrush which can cause damage to the gums.
• Diet: A balanced diet with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein is essential to a pregnant woman’s healthy diet. However, you must avoid sugary snacks and frequent snacking because it will increase your tooth decay risks.
• Regular Dental Visits: the ADA recommends frequent dental exams during pregnancy to ensure the dentist stays on top of your oral health and detects problems in your mouth early. Prevention is crucial when maintaining your dental health. Your dentist is the optimal professional to work with you and ensure minute changes in your teeth are detected early and treated quickly.

If you are pregnant and have a cavity in your tooth, kindly visit Anchorage Dental Arts to restore your tooth without waiting for the infection to expand. Restoring your tooth early will prevent the need for intensive treatments during pregnancy, besides providing freedom from excruciating pain or losing your tooth.