Dental Work While 5 Months Pregnant?

[pacifica]

Hello All! So, part of a filling came out of my tooth recently and I went to dentist and he wants to repair the filling WHILE I'm pregnant. He actually thinks it should be fixed asap to prevent infection, because that could be dangerous for baby. I do not have any pain with the tooth and I'm worried about getting work done to teeth while pregnant. Any information/opinions/resources would be greatly appreciated!

[HeatherB]

I'd look into what meds would be used (pain and such), but other than that, I actually was taught at a midwifery conference that work should be done in the 2nd trimester to avoid possible preterm labor. Apparently gum disease is a risk factor for preterm labor, but they don't advise cleanings and such in the first trimester because of the risk to the baby at that point.

Hope that helps a bit!

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

I'd look into what meds would be used (pain and such), but other than that, I actually was taught at a midwifery conference that work should be done in the 2nd trimester to avoid possible preterm labor. Apparently gum disease is a risk factor for preterm labor, but they don't advise cleanings and such in the first trimester because of the risk to the baby at that point.

Hope that helps a bit!

this is what I have been told as well. So now is probably the best time to (but of course, educate yourself on what will go on and the risks involved first)

[pacifica]

thanks. I called my dr's office and left a message with the nurse to contact me. I will ask about medications they will use for procedure. I would rather leave it alone until baby is born, but then I'll be breastfeeding, so that's not good either!!

[bananabee]

I had a dental filling done back in early March, so I was about 6 mos at the time. My dentist wouldn't have anything to do with me w/o consent from my OB. You might want to ask them to confer together by phone or fax to make sure the drugs they use on you will be okay.

If it helps any, I also had back surgery at 3 1/2 mos, and they used a lot more drugs and radiation on me than what goes on in a dentist's office, and baby seems to be doing just fine as far as we can tell.

[Llyra]

Both of my OBs and my midwife have all specifically advised getting dental work done in the second trimester. The idea, I think, is to get it all fixed before you enter the third trimester, and find it more and more uncomfortable to sit in the dentist's chair, and are more at risk of preterm labor due to infection in your mouth.

[pacifica]

I am already a worry wort and adding dental work to the pregnancy isn't something I wanted to do. Ugh, I'll worry if I do and worry if I don't. I still haven't heard back from my doctor's office.

[Llyra]

I would do it. What if it starts to hurt, bad, and you're dealing with that like during labor or something? I had a broken tooth that I didn't get fixed soon enough, while I was pregnant with DD1, and in the last few weeks it started to be very painful, and nobody would fix it, because I was only weeks away from delivery, and it was awful. I remember having to leave DD1 at only a week or so old, to go get it fixed, and that was no fun, because my body was still so beat up and my hormones were going crazy.

[bjorker]

I had two fillings done (with no meds, tho) at the beginning of my 3rd trimester, and I still have another one to do... PLUS a root canal. Lame. My midwife is not at all worried and has had clients do them right before birthing. I need to make my appt asap as I would like to avoid that, but I'm getting pretty close as it is.

The one thing I would check into is if there's any risk of mercury/toxins falling out when they fix your filling... though it still sounds like it needs to be done if part of it has already fallen out.

[McMandy]

"They" say all your dental work should be done previous to your third trimester. I had a lot of dental work up until 15 weeks (a lot more than I had intended because the dentist messed up THREE of my teeth and I had to have root canals redone and crowns replaced), and I still have more to be done (minor work really, just a couple fillings).

Of all the dental work, having fillings or having them replaced is the easiest and simplest.. and you could even have it done in your 3rd trimester.

However, having major work done (root canals,etc) done in the 3rd trimester is a little riskier, but if it's a big issue, then it needs to be done.

I had an abscess, which was growing into a big infection.. and it could poison me and kill the baby. The risk of not dealing with it until after the birth was bigger than taking care of it while I was pregnant.

I actually had a broken tooth (because part of the filling fell out and, because of that, part of the back chipped out) when I was pregnant with baby #3, and I didn't go into the dentist because I thought I shouldn't have any dental work. If I would have, it would have been easy to fix... but because I waited, I ended up having to have major work done on it. I had to have a root canal and a crown put on it!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Definitely have it fixed now while it is an easy one. As long as they use local to numb with there isnt a problem in pg. I had a tooth pulled with local at 13 weeks it was very easy and actually was the least painful one I have had removed out of 3.

[wills_mom]

I had a root canal and crown placed on a tooth. I had the shots of lydicane and also one norco before the procedure for pain (I was in a lot of pain the week leading up to the procedure, but stuck to tylenol). The root canal wasn't so bad once they got me numb enough and I have healed wonderfully. My OB ok'd the lydicane, the norco and a relaxant if I needed it, but I passed on the third. I am a very apprehensive dental patient, so I usually get the laughing gas when there. That is a no-no during pregnancy, so I was surprised I did so well. Good luck to you!