It is appropriate to perform short dental procedures during the third trimester as there is not significant risk to the fetus. However, there is an increased risk of discomfort to the mother that can be reduced to a greater extent by proper positioning. The recommended time to perform procedures is during the middle of the third trimester. The following measures are recommended during third trimester:
- Maintenance of oral hygiene and plaque control.
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- It’s safe to perform scaling, polishing and curettage if necessary.
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- Active oral diseases should be controlled.
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- It’s safe to perform elective procedures.
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- The radiograph use should be minimized.
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- Procedures not to be performed after mid time of the third trimester.
Dental radiations and pregnancy
Current evidence suggests that ‘dental radiography’ is measured as harmless in child bearing women. The safety directly rests upon the type and amount of radiations to which the patients is exposed. Special precautionary measures should be guaranteed for pregnant women (e.g. thyroid collar, lead apron, and speed films) because the risk to the growing fetus is directly connected to rise in exposure.40 Fetus radiation exposure over 10 rads is considered to be hazardous and may contribute to mutation, mental retardation and abnormalities of the eyes. It’s uncommon for a single X-ray or collection of investigative X-rays to exceed 5 rads.40 For instance, the volume of radiation that a baby acquires from a mother’s dental X-ray is only 0.01 millirads. Since a rad is equivalent to 1000 millirads, one would have to have 100,000 dental X-rays for the baby to receive just one rad.41
The risk from the X-rays (diagnostic) is very low. The experts, however, often recommend delaying exposure to radiations until birth. If the dentists require X-rays for any particular condition, the amount of radiation to the growing fetus must be well within the safe range.40 Also, every protection should be taken to reduce radiation contact using shielding thyroid collars and aprons whenever possible
