Can I See the Dentist While Pregnant?

When you find out you’re pregnant your main priority is protecting the beautiful baby growing inside of you. So there’s bound to be questions about what you can and cannot do. At Royal Park Dental we often get expectant mothers questioning the safety of seeing the dentist while pregnant. In short, seeing the dentist throughout your pregnancy is completely safe and can prove to be beneficial to your overall health.

Unfortunately, according to a study completed by the Australian Dental Association revealed that more than half of Australian women fear that visiting the dentist throughout their pregnancy can harm their baby. This can prove to be a damaging problem if you are avoiding seeing your dentist and getting the care you need.

Below we’ve listed reasons why you should continue to visit your dentist throughout your pregnancy and if there are any instances when you should steer clear.

Risk of Developing Gum Disease

Just because you’re pregnant, doesn’t mean that you should stop your dental care. It’s actually even more important to ensure that your oral hygiene is up to scratch.

When you’re pregnant, the rush of hormones circulating in your body can affect your gums. Your gums have a higher chance of bleeding, leaving them with a higher chance of becoming infected which can lead to severe teeth damage further down the track. While gum disease won’t directly harm your baby, but it does mean that your overall health is not as good as it could be.

Heading to your trusted dental practitioner for a scale and clean throughout your pregnancy is the best way to ensure that your oral health is not compromised throughout your pregnancy.

At Royal Park Dental our dentists will work with you to develop a schedule for you to follow throughout your pregnancy. This will ensure that you can monitor your teeth and gum’s condition and make the recommend adjustments to your oral care routine or carry out any treatments as needed.

The Fear of X-Rays

A common concern that many expectant mothers have when visiting the dentist is being exposed to the radiation caused by x-rays. However, the modern forms of dental x-rays use very low doses of radiation and a single dose is not enough to cause harm to a developing foetus.

While x-rays are safe, it may be recommended that you hold off from undergoing this procedure in your first trimester if you only require a general check-up. However, if there is a dental emergency that requires x-rays in order for your dentist to plan your treatment sufficiently, it is perfectly safe to move forward. 

Pregnancy-Friendly Dentist

If you’re expecting and looking for a friendly dentist, look no further than the Royal Park Dental team. Our highly skilled dentistry team will develop a dental care plan that is tailored to you throughout your pregnancy and will always make every effort to ensure that you and your baby are safe and comfortable each visit. Call today, and our friendly team can organise your next appointment!