Treating periodontal disease during pregnancy

04.01.2022

PD Dr. Kristina Bertl, PhD MSc MBA

The article can be downloaded from the following link: https://www.efp.org/publications/projects/oralhealthandpregnancy/reports/treating-perio-disease.pdf

Periodontitis and pregnancy – it’s something we deal with regularly in our day-to-day work. But what can we do? And – most importantly – what are we allowed to do?

Treating periodontal disease during pregnancy

This report by the European Federation for Periodontology (EFP – https://www.efp.org ) provides us with the following important information for our daily dental practice:

Oral hygiene instructions, oral hygiene sessions and non-surgical periodontal treatment are considered safe measures during the second trimester of pregnancy.
Oral hygiene instructions, oral hygiene sessions and non-surgical periodontal treatment are considered effective measures during the second trimester of pregnancy, even though we may not be able to fully control the gingivitis of all our pregnant patients.
Pregnant patients with periodontitis seem to have a higher risk of complications during pregnancy (e.g. premature birth, lower birth weight).
Unfortunately, it seems that having periodontal treatment during the second trimester of pregnancy is unable to substantially reduce this risk.
For this reason, we should make our female patients aware of their periodontal disease in a timely manner – i.e. before any possible pregnancy – and recommend the appropriate treatment.
What should we avoid? It is essential not to administer antibiotics from the tetracycline group! And if possible, it is best to use a local anaesthetic that does not contain epinephrine (adrenaline). Conversely, X-rays – if required – pose no risk to the unborn child from the second trimester of pregnancy.

You can get further interesting information and, more importantly, flyers and brochures on this topic from the Austrian Society for Periodontology:
https://youngsters.oegp.at/mundgesundheit-schwangerschaft/