Periodontal Surgery During Pregnancy

Pregnant women who have periodontal disease may affect pregnancy outcomes. What we do know is that periodontal disease is an infection and all infections are cause for concern during pregnancy because they pose a risk to the health of the baby. 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. Periodontal infections increase the levels of prostaglandin and tumor necrosis factor molecules that induce labor. The procedure entails cleaning of the tooth-root surfaces to remove plaque and tartar from periodontal pockets and smoothing the root to remove bacterial toxins. If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, be sure to include an evaluation with a periodontist as part of your prenatal care.