Should I Wait to Receive Dental Implants While Pregnant?

It’s an exciting time when preparing to welcome a child into the world. Apart from getting their room ready, you may be staying busy trying to remember everything else you need to do before your baby arrives. One of these is continuing to take proper care of yourself. From your mental and emotional well-being to your physical health, you may begin wondering if dental implants during pregnancy are possible since you have a few missing teeth. A local dentist explains how you should handle this type of situation no matter how far along you are.

Can Dental Implants Be Placed While Pregnant?

Most dentists will err on the side of caution and recommend that you wait until you’re no longer pregnant before suggesting that you move forward with dental implants. Many changes occur throughout nine months, and it is often best if you hold off on any surgical procedures until after the baby arrives.

The truth is that placing dental implants can be risky, posing possible complications that can impact you and your child. One of the potential issues is dental implant failure. While you’re pregnant, you may notice that your gums bleed more. The chance of developing gum disease during this time increases significantly. As a result, this attack on your gum tissues can negatively affect your dental implants, causing them to fail if left untreated.

Also, should you develop an infection after the placement of your dental implants, this can be risky for you and your child. Antibiotics are not commonly provided, and treatment for any pain or infection is minimal.

It is essential that your dentist be able to safely treat you while pregnant, and certain medications, treatments, and procedures simply make it unsafe to address while carrying a child.

What About the Potential For Bone Loss?

If it’s recommended that you do not pursue dental implants while pregnant, you may also be wondering about the potential for bone and additional tooth loss. After all, if you allow a missing tooth to remain untreated for too long, it can negatively impact your oral and overall health, right? This is true, but what you might not realize is that while you may be unable to have these titanium posts inserted while pregnant, you can still begin the process.

You’ll be encouraged to schedule a consultation with your dentist once you’ve reached your second trimester, as dental X-rays are less likely to cause any issues during this time. They will also evaluate the health of your jawbone to determine if you’ll need a bone graft before receiving your dental implants.

While you’ll still need to wait for placement, you can work to stay on top of your oral health, as this will be most beneficial when it comes time to see your dentist for your new and improved smile.

About the Author
Dr. Mark Simeone understands the difficulties patients face when dealing with tooth loss. Offering dental implants as a superior option for tooth replacement, he and his team work to establish personalized plans based on the needs of the patient to ensure optimal results. If you mention that you are pregnant but are looking to receive dental implants, our team will identify the appropriate time to begin treatment and develop a timeline that allows you and your baby to remain safe. Contact us at (610) 383-1600 to learn how we can help you.