Improving oral health during pregnancy not only enhances the overall health of women but also contributes to improving the oral health of their children. In the past, some oral health professionals have postponed treatment because of the uncertainty about the risk of x-rays and bacteremia (4;5). However, deferring appropriate treatment may cause unforeseen harm to the woman and possibly to the fetus for several reasons. First, women may self-medicate with over the counter medications like acetaminophen to control pain. Second, untreated cavities in mothers may increase the risk of caries in children. Finally, untreated oral infection may become a systemic.
