Issues in dental and surgical management of the pregnant patient.

The "echo boom" of the 1980s has increased the incidence of pregnancy in our patient population. When a gravid patient has an urgent or emergent problem, knowledge of the unique aspects of pregnancy is necessary for optimal patient care. Maternal health is protected by an appreciation of the physiologic changes and demands of pregnancy. Fetal well-being is protected by avoidance of teratogens, fetal anoxia, and premature labor. Attention to these factors allows the clinician to provide treatment with minimal maternal or fetal risk.