Is It Safe To Get Dental Implants While You Are Pregnant?

During pregnancy, women are asked to avoid a number of things, including activities, medications and procedures to protect the safety and health of their unborn baby. Therefore, it is understandable for pregnant women to wonder if it’s okay to get a dental implant or if they should wait until after delivery. Maybe you had a tooth knocked out during a recent injury or you just want to go ahead and get the procedure done before your schedule is more tied up with a new baby. In either case, the answer is complicated. Yes, women can safely undergo dental implant surgery after their first trimester of pregnancy. However, unless you have an urgent situation, most implant dentists will suggest that you wait. Here’s why:

X-Rays: While the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that dental x-rays are safe for pregnant women, undergoing advanced imaging for an elective procedure is best to put off so that there’s no risk at all of radiation exposure to your unborn child.

Anesthesia: Local anesthesia has been deemed safe for pregnancy, but general anesthesia should be avoided. Dental implant surgery or any need for bone grafting before dental implants are procedure that typically require additional sedation.

Stress: Your level of worry and stress can directly affect your developing baby. If there’s an opportunity to avoid additional stress caused by an oral surgery and recovery, then it is best to do so.

At the office of Wayne Suway, DDS, we applaud your willingness to get a dental implant during pregnancy, and we certainly understand that you want a beautiful and complete smile when your baby is born. However, unless it is an emergency circumstance, we will always have the health of you and your baby as our top priority. We are happy to schedule your dental implants consult before the baby arrives, so that you can go forward with implant surgery shortly after delivery. In the meantime, remember to take extra care of your teeth and gums during pregnancy, as women often encounter special challenges such as gum disease during these months of changing hormones. The presence of untreated or advanced gum disease may even disqualify you or delay your dental implant surgery!