Many women naturally seek to better their appearance and enjoy makeovers while pregnant. If you are expecting, you may be interested in getting dental implants to help enhance your smile. However, this is likely a procedure that will need to wait until after your bundle of joy arrives. While there are many other steps you can take to keep yourself looking and feeling good, dentistry professionals recommend waiting on dental implants.
Getting Dental Implants While Pregnant
While all pregnant women are encouraged by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Dental Association (ADA) to get regular preventative oral health treatment, such as regular cleaning and exams, other elective procedures should generally wait. Although elective treatments such as dental implants may be safely performed after the first trimester, most oral surgeons recommend waiting until you aren’t pregnant just to be on the safe side.
Why Should Dental Implants Wait Until After Pregnancy?
Dentists and oral surgeons recommend waiting until after pregnancy to get dental implants for several reasons, including the following:
- There is no considerable health risk in waiting to have implants—as opposed to the more serious risks presented by dental decay or trauma
- Changes to oral health and the immune system during pregnancy can increase the risk of implant failure
- More potent anesthetics often used to install dental implants are contraindicated during pregnancy
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
Will People Notice My Dental Implants?
Dental implants have the most natural appearance of any tooth replacement procedure. They don’t use any neighboring teeth for support, so there are no brackets, wires, or composite visible. In addition, the crown is custom-made to fit the shape, color, and size of your existing teeth. Implants are also highly secure, so you can use your teeth normally without fear that your implant will more or come out.
Given these factors, it’s extremely rare that anyone notices you have a dental implant. All they will notice is your healthy, confident, and vibrant smile.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants have the highest success rate of any surgically implanted device, at approximately 98 percent. But keep in mind that for your implants to be successful and stay in place, you do need to take excellent care of them– including brushing and flossing correctly, visiting your dentist for routine checkups, and not smoking.
Dental Implants at Golia Dental
At Golia Dental, we are happy to help you explore your dental implant options. If you are currently pregnant, we can evaluate you for implants during your second trimester so that you are one step closer to getting them once you have your baby.
During this evaluation, we can answer any questions you might have and address your concerns. While you are still pregnant, focus on excellent oral hygiene, not only to preserve your dental health for implants but also to keep you and your baby healthy during this time.
Contact us at 203-248-7400 to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.