As you await the arrival of your bundle of joy, you may find yourself feeling the urge to prepare, a tendency called nesting. You get the nursery ready, buy diapers and other supplies, perhaps cook or freeze meals in advance, and surround yourself with what you’ll need to welcome your baby!
In your nesting, you may wish to take care of personal tasks as well. For instance, you may want to finish dental work you need or want to get done like dental implants to replace missing teeth. However, this phase is not the appropriate time to address this issue. Keep reading to learn more about why you shouldn’t get dental implants during pregnancy!
How Does Your Oral Health Change During Pregnancy?
During gestation, your body’s hormones drop and soar, preparing you to give energy, nutrients, and life to your baby. However, these changes in hormones can have unpleasant effects on your smile. Gum disease becomes much more likely during pregnancy, which increases the risk of implant failure. Without healthy, strong gums and jawbone, the implant cannot become integrated with the bone properly. As a result, if you try to get dental implants at this time, they likely will not work out.
How Could Recovery Be Difficult for a Pregnant Patient?
Not only do those who are pregnant tend to face fatigue, hormones swings, weight gain, and other side effects, recovery from injuries or surgeries can take longer because your body works extra hard to heal as well as grow a tiny human being.
Commonly, pregnant patients face a couple of problems with the added risk of gum disease, namely, more inflammation, painful complications, and slower healing. To ensure success with replacement teeth, most dentists will discourage moving forward with dental implants during this life-changing stage.
When Should a Pregnant Patient Get Dental Implants?
Fortunately, pregnancy is temporary! Several months after the baby has arrived, your hormones should start to return to normal levels. As a result, as long as you work with your dentist and maintain excellent oral hygiene at home, your mouth will likely be in a better position for dental implant placement.
You don’t have to get everything done before your little one comes. Put your dental implants on hold until your miraculous body recovers from pregnancy and childbirth. Although it can be difficult to wait, postponing treatment can give you better chances of successfully replacing missing teeth and regaining a complete, strong smile, which you will need to help your baby learn to do too in a few months!
About the Practice
The team at Williamsburg Dental treats every member of the family, from children to the elderly. We recommend continuing healthy oral habits during pregnancy to prevent serious dental damage or tooth loss. However, no matter what has happened to your smile, we can handle your care, including routine cleanings through complex dental implant cases. Choose one of our six locations in Lincoln and reach out to us to schedule an appointment today!