Dentistry in Pregnancy
Every dentist advises their patients to have frequent checkups. Patients who are expecting may not realize the significance of this. With the excitement of preparing for the next chapter of their lives, they may forget to visit.
It is our responsibility to educate pregnant women about the necessity of visiting the dentist. Maintaining a healthy and effective oral hygiene practice during that time could help you avoid gum disease.
Aside from detecting the patient’s baby bump or having them inform us via medical history paperwork, there are a few other ways we can detect pregnancy, including through the oral cavity.
Gingivitis and Periodontitis
Patients may notice spontaneous gum bleeding or bleeding after brushing their teeth.
The following are some of the factors that can induce this:
– Brushing fails to remove tooth plaque (possibly because of a gag reflex or feeling nauseous while brushing)
– Diseases or other causes. Pregnancy hormones (mostly estradiol, estriol, and progesterone).
– Due to the deposition of tooth plaque, this causes gingival irritation. This multiplies, boosting blood flow to the gums, causing them to become red, inflamed, and sensitive.
Periodontitis and tooth movement might result from poor dental care.
Increased plaque levels can cause germs to multiply even more on the root surfaces. Deep pockets form between the gums and the roots as a result of this.
The gingiva tends to retreat, exposing the roots and further destroying the tooth-supporting bone. The teeth may become movable as a result of various factors.
What we can detect: pregnancy granuloma
Pregnant can result in the creation of pregnancy granulomas or epulis, in addition to the overall changes to the gums.
They frequently present as pedunculated, asymptomatic, red and fleshy, enlarged benign masses interproximally, despite their menacing appearance. Usually occurs in areas where gingivitis has already developed.
Because they are highly vascularized, they tend to bleed frequently and quickly. Especially if they make chewing difficult.
Regnancy granulomas develop in response to hormonal fluctuations. These are common during pregnancy, particularly when plaque levels are high, which can lead to gingivitis.
The good news is that you can inform your patients that lesions normally fade after birth when hormone levels fluctuate. However, a good dental hygiene routine is still required.
Vomiting
Increased acids cause dental erosion, which is the loss of the surfaces of your teeth.
This could be due to what they’re eating or the acids in their stomach contents, which can go back into your mouth as a result of morning sickness.
The acid will erode your teeth. Many patients, however, are unaware that brushing their teeth after morning sickness might further damage and destroy the enamel surfaces.
It is critical to inform patients that rinsing their mouth with water rather than brushing their teeth soon after these incidents is the best way to eliminate the taste.
