I am pregnant and am in my last trimester. I have a toothache and was wondering if I can get it taken care of now, or if I need to wait until after the baby arrives? I don’t know if it’s an emergency but it sure hurts a lot.
- Katie in Massachusetts
Katie,
If you think you may have a dental emergency, then you absolutely need to be seen. Often times a toothache is an indicator of a more serious problem. Just be sure to let them know when you schedule your emergency dentist appointment that you are pregnant. Really the biggest danger in having the tooth treated at this stage of your pregnancy is that you will need to lie on your back for an extended amount of time. But if you don’t think that will be a problem for you, then there should be no problem in getting the tooth taken care of.
If you require a crown or fillings, then ideally the second trimester is better for dental work. Throughout pregnancy it is always important to keep up with regularly scheduled dental care. This is because infection needs to be avoided. Pregnancy increases hormone levels which can cause swelling in the gums and bleeding gums. So regular, routine care is very important to avoid gum infection. X-rays and more invasive treatments are discouraged during the first trimester because there is so much development taking place and the fetus is much more vulnerable.
But if you are having intense pain with your tooth, it may be a tooth infection. So if you can tolerate staying still and laying down it would be best to move forward with treatment. A root canal may be in order. Just be sure to confirm with your OB-GYN that he or she is comfortable with the numbing agent and ask them if they have any concerns.Sometimes doctors prefer an anesthetic without epinephrine. This is because epinephrine can increase your heart rate.
Here are some general guidelines for safe dental care during pregnancy:
- Keep up with regular cleanings and exams.
- If you require non-emeregency treatment, try to schedule it after the first trimester or even until after the child is born.
- Teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry is discouraged.
- Try not to cross your legs while sitting or laying in the dental chair. This will aide in proper circulation.
- Make sure you communicate with your dentist if you experience any discomfort and bring a pillow to keep yourself as comfortable as possible.
This post is sponsored by Mesa dentist Desert Family Dental.
