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Pregnancy: physiologic changes and considerations for dental patients

Tracy M Dellinger1, H Mark Livingston

  • 1Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program, University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. tdellinger@sod.umsmed.edu

Dental Clinics of North America
|September 27, 2006
PubMed

Human gestation is a period of dynamic physiologic changes designed to support the development fetus. Systems affected include the respiratory, gastrointestinal, circulatory, and musculoskeletal. These alterations influence the patient's general health and make her prone to develop complications unique to pregnancy. Such complications include pre-eclampsia, gestation diabetes, and pregnancy tumors. The fetus's development is also affected by its mother's health, social habits, and medication usage. To protect both the mother and unborn child, dental professional may need to incorporate maternal counseling, treatment modifications, or changes to their customary medication repertoire.

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