Pregnancy & Dental Care: Learn How to Save While Smiling for Two

Pregnancy results in a woman’s body going through many changes – hormonal, physical, and emotional. As the baby grows, certain hormones can heighten the mother’s risk of developing various oral health problems. Without dental insurance, the cost of addressing these issues can become expensive. If you are expecting and need reasons to take advantage of your available benefits now, keep reading.

What Kind of Dental Problems Can Occur During Pregnancy?

A woman’s hormones change rapidly while pregnant. The increased production of estrogen and progesterone affects the body and the mouth, often leading to:

• Bleeding gums, which is often the initial stage of gum disease known as gingivitis
• Tooth decay and enamel erosion because of stomach acid that forms as a result of morning sickness
• Bad breath
• Gum inflammation
• Cavities because of snacking or less-than-healthy meals (often caused by nausea or food aversions)

How Can These Oral Health Problems Affect the Baby?

The oral health problems that can develop while pregnant not only affect you, but they can also negatively impact your unborn baby. Without proper treatment or preventive measures, tooth decay and gum disease can worsen, resulting in:

• Pre-term birth
• Low birth weight
• Increased bad bacteria in your child’s mouth after birth
• Infection that affects your body and your baby’s

The Benefits of Using Your Dental Insurance While Pregnant

Although there are certain dental procedures and services you should avoid while pregnant (i.e., teeth whitening, certain sedation/anesthesia, etc.), it is in your best interest (and your child’s) to maintain healthy teeth and gums during this time.

To do this, you will need to see your dentist regularly, which often comes at a cost. To lower your out-of-pocket expenses, you can use your dental insurance benefits. These are typically good for one calendar year and are helpful no matter what kind of preventive or restorative service you need.

Not only will your insurance company likely pay 100% for regular dental checkups and cleanings and other similar services, but they’ll also pay 50-80% for any minor or major restorative treatment you need (i.e., dental fillings, dental crowns, tooth extractions, etc.).

While it’s always best to minimize your need for more advanced dental care by taking proper care of your oral health each day, you can trust that as long as you meet your deductible, your insurance company will step in to reduce your expenses.

About the Author
Dr. Zack Hegazin is a dentist in McKinney who has 10+ years of experience and received his dental degree at Loma Linda University in California. Pleased to be in-network with a host of dental insurance plans, he and Dr. Koro want to make it as easy and affordable as possible for patients to get the care they need, even while they are in the most vulnerable state. If you are pregnant and want to make sure you are taking proper care of your oral health during this time, contact us via our website or call (214) 592-0441.