The decision to get dental implants wasn’t one you made overnight; you spent quite a bit of time researching it and spoke to your dentist and periodontist at length about the topic before you decided to move forward. However, before the day of your planned dental implant surgery, you’ve discovered that your pregnant. How does this change things? Is it okay to move forward with the process, or do you need to wait? Read on to learn everything you need to know about getting dental implants during pregnancy.
What Do Experts Recommend?
Oral health experts always tailor their recommendations to minimize the risk to their patients, which is even more important during pregnancy. When it comes to dental implants, they usually recommend waiting until after pregnancy is over. This is because getting dental implants is considered a strictly elective procedure; your health won’t significantly suffer if you wait, so the risk to yourself and your child will be higher if you have the procedure done right away.
Why is Placing Dental Implants During Pregnancy Risky?
Placing dental implants while a patient is pregnant increases the likelihood of dental implant failure. Being pregnant causes changes in your immune system and can lead to inflammation of the gums as well as gestational diabetes (elevated blood sugar during pregnancy). All of these factors can have a negative effect on your mouth’s ability to properly heal and join with the dental implants, meaning there’s a higher risk of dental implant failure. Waiting will therefore give you a better chance of success.
It should also be noted that there are a number of post-surgical complications that can potentially compromise your health as well as your child’s health. Notably, after any sort of oral surgery, there is a chance of developing an oral infection. Your periodontist will take every possible step to help you avoid this outcome, of course, but the risk of infection is notably much higher in pregnant women due to changes in their oral health. This is especially problematic because a lot of antibiotics cannot be used during pregnancy. The result is that you could end up with a painful infection without the means to treat or manage it without putting your child or yourself at risk. Again, your best option is to wait until your periodontist or dentist has determined that it’s safe to proceed.
How Can You Prepare for Getting Dental Implants After Pregnancy?
Throughout your pregnancy, you should make a point of maintaining good oral health so that your mouth is still in good shape once you’re ready for implant surgery. This means brushing and flossing daily as well as going for regular dental checkups and having professional cleanings performed.
It may not be recommended to get dental implants while you’re pregnant, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait to start the process. Call a periodontist today to schedule a consultation to start discussing potential next steps so that you don’t have to wait too long after giving birth to transform your smile.
About the Author
Dr. Alexander Schrott is a highly trained specialist in the field of dental implants. He has been board-certified by the American and German Boards of Periodontology, and he is a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology. Thanks to his experience and expertise, he has helped many patients in a variety of complex situations enjoy successful dental implant surgery. To schedule a consultation at his Belmont practice, visit his website or call (617) 484-9240.