Considerations for orthodontic treatment during pregnancy: An update

Abstract

Pregnancy is associated with the various physiological and hormonal changes in females. Orthodontic as well as any dental treatment should not be denied during pregnancy, perhaps some necessary precautions should be taken while treating a pregnant patient. This review article focuses on the hormonal changes and the prescribed drugs taken during pregnancy that affects the orthodontic treatment, the importance of communication and motivation, the precautions to be taken and the orthodontic considerations and management for the pregnant patients. This electronic search was undertaken through Google scholar and PubMed databases by utilizing the appropriate keywords. Literature was extensively reviewed to get information regarding dental and orthodontic treatment during pregnancy. Finally, the overall findings were summarized and presented in the following article. Based on the researched reviews, the orthodontists as well as other health care professionals need to realize that the orthodontic treatment is not a contraindication during pregnancy and can be performed successfully during this period by tak-ing certain precautions. A good communication between the patient and the orthodontist must be established for the successful completion of the orthodontic treatment.