There are more and more young adult women getting orthodontic treatment every day. *

Being of childbearing age, it is becoming more common to experience pregnancy in these patients. And in these cases the professionals we find the question: Is there a problem for carrying orthodontics during pregnancy?

In itself, there is no major problem that contraindicates orthodontic treatment. It has been shown that during pregnancy, hormonal changes lead to increased gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), gingival enlargement that may be potentiated by irritating factors. The element that habitually creates greater gingivitis is dental plaque. The orthodontic appliance, due to its greater retention of plaque, may favor the appearance of gingival enlargement. This is why, during treatment with brackets, it is very important to have good hygiene and in case of pregnancy this information becomes more important due to the greater predisposition to inflammation of the gums.

Another situation would be the pregnant woman who wants to start the orthodontic treatment. Usually to make a correct diagnosis is necessary to perform complementary tests, including x-rays, which would be contraindicated during pregnancy. In these cases it would be advisable to wait to have the baby to do the study.

* Written by Dr. Alexandra Castañeda.