Many women question if it's safe for them to get dental implants during pregnancy. While dental implant surgery is a fairly safe procedure overall, almost all dentists recommend that pregnant women wait until after they've given birth to have any elective dentistry like dental implants done. Here are the reasons why you should wait and what to do when you can't.

How Does Pregnancy Tax The Body's Resources?

One of the primary reasons dental implants are contraindicated for pregnant women is because the growing baby puts extensive demands on the mother's body. In particular, babies will leach calcium from the mothers' bones for their own development if the mothers aren't getting enough in their diets. Couple that issue with the negative impact fluctuating hormones can have on oral health, and it may be very challenging a pregnant woman's mouth to properly integrate the dental implant into the jaw bone.

Another major issue is that the dentist will typically take a number of oral x-rays during the implant process to judge the health of the jaw bone and monitor the progress of the dental implant. Exposure to radiation from x-rays can have a negative impact on your baby's growth, particularly in the first trimester of your pregnancy when the baby's bones and organs are forming. Although the x-ray is of your mouth (nowhere near your reproductive organs), it's generally best not to take any unnecessary risks.

Lastly, stomach acid is bad for your teeth and gums, so attempting to place a dental implant during a time when you may be suffering from frequent bouts of morning sickness can prevent the implant from taking hold or even cause the false tooth to fall out due to acid erosion.

What Can You Do If You Need To Replace A Tooth?

Emergencies happen, and you may get caught in a situation where you need to have a tooth replaced while you're pregnant for one reason or another. There are a couple of things that you can do to protect yourself and your unborn child.

If at all possible, delay having any dental work done until after the first trimester of your pregnancy. This is a time of rapid growth for your baby. Any medication that you take or x-ray procedure done on you during this time may have a negative impact on the baby's development. Have the work done in your second trimester and be certain to wear a protective garment during any x-rays. Work with your doctor to ensure that any medicine or pain relievers that you're prescribed are safe to use during pregnancy.

Instead of getting an implant, discuss temporary tooth solutions with the dentist. For instance, the dentist may be able to cover a tooth that needs replacing with a temporary crown and then perform the implant procedure after you give birth.

For more information about getting dental implants or handling oral emergencies during pregnancy, contact a dentist in your area. For more information, contact a professional like those at Oral Surgery Associates Inc.