Oral Surgery & Women's Health
At Lake Forest Oral Surgery, we are aware that women often have unique dental health needs. You deserve to be an active participant in your care, and our goal is to provide the information you need to make confident decisions about treatments that support your overall health and well-being.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant, please let your oral and maxillofacial surgeon know. It is better to forgo any elective procedures since the process can be stressful and expose the fetus to medication.
There is significant evidence that a connection exists between periodontal (gum) disease and pregnancy. If you still have your wisdom teeth, you should know that they are frequently associated with gum disease because they are located far back in your mouth and difficult to clean thoroughly. Studies indicate that periodontal disease during pregnancy is linked to preterm deliveries, low birth weight babies, and preeclampsia.
If you have a high caries (cavities) rate and expose your child to the bacteria through mouth-to-mouth transmission, your child is also likely to be more prone to cavities.
At Lake Forest Oral Surgery, Dr. Suzin Um is committed to helping our patients enjoy healthy pregnancies. She has experience in prenatal screening and the treatment of pregnant patients.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis means "porous bone" and results in bones becoming brittle and weak. The medications prescribed for treating osteoporosis can have an effect on the healing of bone after a tooth extraction. Common medications for osteoporosis include Boniva, Fosamax, Reclast, and others. If Dr. Um is planning your extraction and you have osteoporosis, she will recommend a drug "holiday" or blood testing. 
Cancer and Chemotherapy
If you have breast or lung cancer, your oncologist probably told you that they could travel to the jaw (metastasize). Dr. Um recommends frequent examinations of your jaw for detection of oral cancers because early diagnosis results in the best prognosis.
Certain cancers cause an increased level of calcium in the blood, which is called hypercalcemia. This is a dangerous condition that needs to be treated because it can cause a change in your heart rhythm.
Unfortunately, the medication that's used during chemotherapy to treat hypercalcemia can impair healing of the jaw after a dental extraction. That is why Dr. Um recommends that you complete a dental clearance with her before you start chemotherapy.
Please Contact Us to Learn More
Dr. Um is an attending surgeon of hospitals in San Francisco including California Pacific Medical Center, St. Mary's Hospital, and St. Francis Hospital and works as a team with physicians to maintain our patients' oral health.
If you have any of these concerns, or would just like to ensure that your mouth is healthy, please call Lake Forest Oral Surgery to arrange a consultation with Dr. Um.
