5 Questions About Oral Surgery and Pregnancy

These are all good questions to ask, and we’re happy to answer them whenever they come up. Let’s look at the top 5 things patients should know about oral surgery and pregnancy.

1. Are oral surgery and pregnancy compatible?

We don’t recommend it in many cases.

When you’re pregnant, the most important thing is to take every precaution possible. Protecting your child’s health is essential.

Most kinds of oral surgery require sedatives or anesthetic. They’re a benefit to the patient – and can negatively affect the unborn child’s health. We avoid using general anesthetic in particular for pregnant patients.

However, a 2015 study by the ADA (American Dental Association) found that local anesthetics don’t harmfully impact the child’s health and wellness. For that reason, we recommend that pregnant women only undergo procedures that rely on local anesthetic and avoid sedation or general anesthetic.

2. Does it matter what trimester I’m in?

The first and second trimesters of pregnancy are generally safe for oral surgery that doesn’t require sedation. Once the third trimester starts, any surgery is more risky. During this period, we’re careful to only do surgeries that are immediately necessary.

We always account for the nature of the surgery, gauge its necessity, and try to postpone it until after the baby is born. In some cases, this is possible and doesn’t leave the mother with ill effects.

3. Should I get my oral surgery done before pregnancy?

In a perfect world, any oral surgery or major dental work would be finished before pregnancy. If you’re actively trying to get pregnant, you should visit your oral surgeon soon. They’ll be able to gauge what issues, if any, need to be corrected right away – and which can wait. Taking care of surgery as soon as possible is usually best.

4. What types of oral surgery can be postponed until after birth?

In general, the only time we perform an oral surgery during late pregnancy is when there’s a potential health threat to the mother. Most minor oral surgeries can be postponed.

It rarely becomes necessary to go into surgery during the third trimester (or at any stage of pregnancy if sedation is involved). If that happens, your oral surgeons will take every possible precaution. Our goal is to protect life – both yours and your child’s.

5. Are x-rays safe during pregnancy?

X-rays are vital in diagnosing oral and jaw health problems. In all emergency cases, we use x-rays to pinpoint what procedures are needed.

There’s good news – the ADA and American College of Radiology (ACOG) say that no single diagnostic x-ray uses radiation at high enough levels to harm a developing baby. And we always use appropriate shielding as a precaution.

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Do you have any other questions about oral surgery and pregnancy? Give Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga a call – our friendly, knowledgeable staff will gladly answer your questions. You can even set up a consultation with one of our surgeons to discuss the best way to put your mouth in good health.

The post Oral Surgery and Pregnancy: 5 Things You Need to Know  appeared first on Implants & Oral Surgery of Chattanooga.