Getting Dental Implants: 3 Reasons Why You Should Wait It Out Until After Your Pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman's body will go through a lot of hormonal changes. One of the chief pregnancy hormones is estrogen, and elevated levels of this hormone affect dental health.

High estrogen levels in the body stimulate the blood vessels in the mouth to dilate, increasing the blood supply in the mouth. With this increased blood supply, the gums can start bleeding, and they become more sensitive to the bacteria in plaque that may be left uncleared from the tooth surface. Without proper dental hygiene, it, therefore, becomes easier to develop tooth cavities and gingivitis, both of which can cause gradual degradation and eventual loss of teeth.

Dental implants are a safe and effective method for replacing lost teeth. But does pregnancy fulfil the exclusion criteria when it comes to getting these implants? Is it safe for pregnant women to get dental implants? The short answer is yes. Yet, getting a dental implant or going through a similar elective cosmetic dental care surgery it is not advisable for the following reasons:

1. Potent anesthetic

The anesthetic used in elective dental surgery procedures such as getting dental implants is stronger and more potent than the local anesthetic. The latter is considered safe during the pregnancy, but the former can pose a serious risk for both mother and child.

2. Radiation exposure

Dental x-rays are some of the diagnostic tools used before the actual dental implants procedure. Even though the x-rays focus on just the mouth, there is always a risk, however small, of exposing the unborn baby to the radiation. This exposure can cause different problems in the course of the pregnancy and even the baby later on in life. Because it's always best to be safe than sorry, it is advised that pregnant women should avoid this exposure altogether.

3. Elevated Levels of Anxiety

Pregnancy comes with its own fair share of challenges, and for the health and development of a baby, pregnant women are advised to manage their anxiety levels and stress. Going through a surgical procedure such as getting dental implants can send a pregnant woman's stress levels through the roof, which is another reason why doctors advise against getting the procedure done while pregnant.

Because of the reasons highlighted above, it is clear to see why dental surgeons and ob-gyn associates agree that it's always best to put off getting dental implants or going a similar procedure until after childbirth.



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How to Brighten Your Smile For many years, I hated the way my teeth looked. They always looked discoloured so I would do everything I could to hide my smile. On family photos, my mom would always complain that I never gave a grin like my brothers and sisters. When I graduated college, I decided I needed to take action. I contacted my local dental surgery and asked them about tooth whitening treatments. The dentist was great and gave me all of the info I needed. After the treatment, my smile was like a million dollars. I decided to start this blog to educate others about the benefits of teeth whitening and other dental treatments.

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