Dentist while pregnant?

Shoeymcshoe

I am 10wks and I've had a broken tooth that I've been avoiding getting taken out for ages now. Another piece broke off it last night and I fear I will have to suck it up and go to the dentist. Does anyone know if you can get a local aneasthetic while pregnant? If not, is there anything else that can be done in the interim until I can get it fixed after I have the baby?

georgieporgy

it's ok to have dental work done whilst pregnant. the longer you leave it the bigger the problem, so better go for a checkup to assess the situation soon.

How Strange

OP, it's recommended that you go to the dentist for a checkup anyway when you find out you're pregnant as pregnancy can affect your teeth and gums as afaik all your nutrients etc go to the baby.

I've got advanced gum disease and am 7 weeks and the hygienist recommended she see me after 2 months instead of my usual 3 month clean just to monitor my gums.

Losing my teeth is probably one of my biggest concerns about pregnancy as there is a risk I could lose at least one.

Georgieporgy or other mods, is it possible to have an implant done during pregnancy (worst case scenario of course)?

Grawns

I was also diagnosed with gum disease when pregnant:eek: Meant I had to get this deep cleaning called gum planing, followed by a root canal in one tooth. Injections of local anasthetic are fine, you just can't get any x-rays.
I have the biggest dental phobia but found being pregnant made dealing with the dentist easier.

Re. Implant, doubt it as xrays would probably be necessary

georgieporgy

the only reason not to have dental treatment when pregnant is if the patient feels sick or uncomfortable (morning sickness, retching etc)

Xrays are not an issue as lead apron will protect the baby. In any case the baby tends to be situated somewhere in the tummy (quite a distance from the teeth) so even without a lead apron your baby will still be safe.

However some dentists are uneasy about the idea of carrying out treatment on pregnant patients.

certain treatments like surgical extraction of wisdom teeth are probably best deferred till baby is born, but only because the pregnant mum already has her hands full.

ballsymchugh

How Strange wrote: »

OP, it's recommended that you go to the dentist for a checkup anyway when you find out you're pregnant as pregnancy can affect your teeth and gums as afaik all your nutrients etc go to the baby.

I've got advanced gum disease and am 7 weeks and the hygienist recommended she see me after 2 months instead of my usual 3 month clean just to monitor my gums.

Losing my teeth is probably one of my biggest concerns about pregnancy as there is a risk I could lose at least one.

Georgieporgy or other mods, is it possible to have an implant done during pregnancy (worst case scenario of course)?

to get an implant you made need an MRI, depending on whether it's upper or lower, and who's doing it. it takes a few months to do an implant from start to finish, so there should be no real rush with it.

just keep your teeth as clean as possible. you may need to spend about 10-15 minutes cleaning properly to get on top of the perio disease.

and the only reason that you can't get treatment while you're pregnant is if you've a problem with anaesthetic. if you're allergic to the regular one or have some medical problem that means you can't have it, then the another anaesthetic is used. however one of the constituents of that anaesthetic mimics a hormone that induces labour. so it's not wise to have it!

How Strange

Thanks. As I said, it's worse case scenario and my dentist and hygienist are fantastic and are monitoring me very carefully. I'm also upped the ante with the cleaning as a precaution.

The anaesthetic always gives me light heart palpatations which might not be a good thing when pregnant. It's just a flutter and only lasts for a couple of minutes.

Chelle1

georgieporgy wrote: »

the only reason not to have dental treatment when pregnant is if the patient feels sick or uncomfortable (morning sickness, retching etc)

Xrays are not an issue as lead apron will protect the baby. In any case the baby tends to be situated somewhere in the tummy (quite a distance from the teeth) so even without a lead apron your baby will still be safe.

.

Hi

I really want to get braces but we are also trying for another baby. I have an appointment booked for 12th July for x-rays. However the orthodontist will not do the x-rays if I maybe pregnant. Do you think it would be okay not to mention I could be pregnant. I have waited almost 5 years for the right time to get braces and feel if I wait any longer I won't get them.

georgieporgy

I can't very well advise you to mislead the orthodontist.
I think a lot of the problems associated with xrays is fear of being sued if a baby is born with 2 heads or something. The unhappy parents often look for someone or thing to blame.

I wonder if Daydreamer has an opinion on this. He is an orthodontist. (or anybody else??)

ballsymchugh

there's never a wrong time with braces either. i've had some patients in their 60s getting braces before.

how strange, the flutter is usually from the adrenaline in the anaesthetic. the whole debate over whether it should be used in patients with heart problems goes on. your body will probably produce more adrenaline in the few minutes in the waiting room than in the cartridge anyway. personally i only change anaesthetic for those with uncontrolled angina or those allergic to it.

ani_mal

Shoeymcshoe, I had the same but my tooth cracked half. They couldn't extract my tooth unless I was 3 months pregnant. I was visiting dentist every week for changing some sort of medication in my tooth -so I wouldnt get any infection- and then when I was 3 months I got it extracted with aneasthetic.
Do not leave it, just go.

day dreamer

Hi Chelle

It would not be safe to have the xrays if you think you could be pregnant so do tell the orthodontist. If you have any recent xrays they could be used or if you have a neagtive pregnancy test and are sure you are nor pregnant then you could go ahead safely with the xrays.

The reason the orthodontist or any dentist is reluctant to take xrays when a patient is pregnant is to protect the unborn baby. The chances of an adverse effect form the xrays while pregnant are very small but the risk would be bigger at the start than at the end. It is always better to be cautious.

If you become pregnant now, you can always have the treatment at a later date. As has been mentioned there is no problem with adults having braces at any age so you will still be able to have the treatment.

If you become pregnant with the braces on it is no problem, just be careful to keep regular hygienist appointments and excellent oral hygiene and all will be fine.

Best of luck with the braces and the babies!

caprilicious

Hi Shoeymcshoe - congrats on your pregnancy

I went to the dentist at I think 25 weeks pregnant for a cracked tooth (eating too many skittles, my bad ) and all she would offer was a temporary filling.

She told me in order to do a proper filling an Xray would be done and she would not do this during pregnancy.

Suited me nicely as I'm slightly scared of dentists*

*(sorry dentists on the thread :))

Big_G

How Strange wrote: »

OP, it's recommended that you go to the dentist for a checkup anyway when you find out you're pregnant as pregnancy can affect your teeth and gums as afaik all your nutrients etc go to the baby.

I've got advanced gum disease and am 7 weeks and the hygienist recommended she see me after 2 months instead of my usual 3 month clean just to monitor my gums.

Losing my teeth is probably one of my biggest concerns about pregnancy as there is a risk I could lose at least one.

Georgieporgy or other mods, is it possible to have an implant done during pregnancy (worst case scenario of course)?

Lets be clear here about pregnancy because I get asked this all the time. Pregnancy does not cause you to lose teeth.
I have heard some dentists come out with this nonsense that the baby scavenges calcium and that makes you more likely to lose teeth. Teeth are not a significant calcium reservoir. Full stop, exclamation mark.

Two things we know about pregnancy and the mouth:
1 - Hormonal changes cause changes in vascularity(blood flow) in the gums, leading to exacerbation of pre-existing gingivitis.
2 - Periodontal disease has been linked to pre-term and low birth weight babies.

That is all.

How Strange

Big_G wrote: »

Lets be clear here about pregnancy because I get asked this all the time. Pregnancy does not cause you to lose teeth.
I have heard some dentists come out with this nonsense that the baby scavenges calcium and that makes you more likely to lose teeth. Teeth are not a significant calcium reservoir. Full stop, exclamation mark.

Two things we know about pregnancy and the mouth:
1 - Hormonal changes cause changes in vascularity(blood flow) in the gums, leading to exacerbation of pre-existing gingivitis.
2 - Periodontal disease has been linked to pre-term and low birth weight babies.

That is all.

Thanks Big_G, just to be clear I'm not trying to scaremonger pregnant women into thinking that their teeth are going to fall out just because they're pregnant.

In my case I'm pregnant, I have a pre-existing condition of peridonitis and I have one very loose front tooth. I couldn't pull it out but I wouldn't be using it to munch down on apples or steak. I also have two loose teeth either side of my front teeth although these aren't as bad.

I am just concerned that as all the nutrients go to my baby that it might have an adverse effect on the state of my gums and that may in turn lead to a deterioration in the condition of one or more of my loose teeth. Up until now everything has been fine and there has been no sign of any change.

Now of course I have a fantastic dentist, hygienist and a periodontist to look after me but my general question really was if the worst came about and my other front tooth had to be removed could this be done during pregnancy. 7 months is a long time and I suppose I'm concerned from a financial pov as a dental one. €3k is a lot of money to find if you're trying to save for baby equipment too.

I will definitely ask my dentist this question when I have my check up next month.