The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-05-05
BY E. S. WEBER, D. D. S,

| by r.. >. w EDER, ~. ~. y.
Should woman visit dentist after
conception?
If so, at what period?
At what period is there danger in
having work done?
Why is it necessary for her to visit
dentist at all?
There are many obvious reasons
why a woman should visit dentist
during pregnancy. When a woman
conceives, a great load, a great bur-
den, is thrown upon her. Sheenot only
has her own body to nourish, but she
also has that of her prenatal child,
hence she must give to it part of the
nourishment or part of the elements
she would use for her own existence
This weakens her somewhat, because
the organs of the body are not nour-
lshed in their fullness, hence tne3 are
underfed and as result they have not
as much resistance as they are wont
to have under normal conditions. This
is the reason why she frequently feels
faint, or actually faints away, is Of
ten either giddy, sick, or in some in
stances ever hysterical.
Now. what have the teeth to do with
:he matter? said that owing to the
fact that the expectant mother has 70
flourish her prenatal child as wsI as
herself, her entire bodily resistance
is lowered. This renders her more sus-
ceptible to sickness and disease. The
teeth undergo the same changes as
| the other organs of the body during
this period. Part of the calcium and
lime salts that render the teeth more
tenacious, hard and more durable for
long usage are given for the benefit of
the child, hence the teeth and ada
cent tissues of the mouth are made
more susceptible to the diseases of
that particular organ.
1t is very urgent then that woman
during this period should be exam
med. If she has any weak, broken
down teeth, by all means have them
extracted, because they might give
trouble at a time when it would be
dangerous to remove them; have all
deposits removed from the teeth, cor
rect all leaky crowns, filing and the
like. : - H..
When should this work be done,
and when is it dangerous to work ?
The months in which there is danger
are the third. fourth, fifth and sew
enth, particularly the third month,
during the period Of the month when
the mentruation would have occurred.
No dental work that would cause a
great deal of effort on the part of
the patient should be done during the
week of any month she would have
menstruated.
The safest time to have work done
lis shortly after it is certain that she
has conceived. From that time on up
until the third month it is safe to have
any necessary dental operation, and
of course the open months too.
Now, let's view this from another
angle. Some of you readers have no
doubt read my previous articles.
placed emphasis on the significance of
keeping the mouth in good healthy
condition. free from all deposits, all
broken down and doubtful teeth;:
faulty filings, crows and bridges
! should be corrected, ETC., because these
conditions favor the growth Of bac-
terra and make YOU more susceptible
10 infection and disease. Surely one
would not want to be so endangered
during such delicate period. Then
think of your unborn child feeding
and depending upon you for susie
nance and life, and you in a weak,
rundown condition, perhaps. sickly,
due to infection and disease. It is
needless to tell You what could happen
to the child after birth.
It is known fact that q. mouth in,
deplorable condition lowers ones re-
sistance, so it can plainly be seen that
if the mothers resistance is being low
cred by these faults, the child's is, too,
because it is part of the woman dur
ing prenatal life.
Then, too, you want your mouth to
be sweet and clean, your breath also,
lust like that of the child, when you
kiss it "boo WOO, bite it on the cheek
and the like. So to close, urge you
to visit your dentist just the same
as you would your physician during.
this period. 1t is actually necessity
and it will mean great deal both to
the mother and child.
I'm articles which viii appear soon,
DIR. Weber will deal with, other phases
of dental work during ptegnancy.)