Pregnant Woman Should Know About Periodontal Surgery

If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, be sure to include an evaluation with a periodontist as part of your prenatal care. As a woman, at puberty or menopause, and times when you have special health needs, such as menstruation or pregnancy, your body experiences hormonal changes. These changes can affect many of the tissues in your body, including your gums. Your gums can become sensitive, and at times react strongly to the hormonal fluctuations. This may make you more susceptible to gum disease. Additionally, recent studies suggest that pregnant women with gum disease are seven times more likely to deliver premature, low birth weight babies. Periodontal surgery such as scaling and root planning, a non-surgical dental procedure, may reduce the risk of premature birth in women who are less than 35 weeks pregnant.