Question:
I'm 31 weeks pregnant and as if my impending labor and new baby aren't
stressful enough, I now have a tooth that is causing major pain! My family
dentist has told me that I need to have a root canal done. I've been told that
I can have novacaine and that it won't affect my baby that much, but I'm still
worrried.
I'm so terrified of having this done (i'm terrified of any dental procedure),
I'm afraid it will put me into labor. I'm also terrified of trying to put it
off and ending up in labor with a massive tooth problem at the same time. I'm
also afraid of what all that novacaine will do to my baby.
Anyone out there had to deal with this?
Answer:
I presumed you checked with your OB or midwife and have his or her
opinion. I have a filling that's clearly on its last legs and will
definitely require a crown if not a root canal, too. The first thing I
asked my OB was whether it was safe to have this taken care of during my
pregnancy. He said yes - novocaine is no problem, just don't get nitrous
oxide (laughing gas). He said dental x-rays are also safe, no matter *how*
pregnant you are, as long as the lead shield is used over your abdomen,
but that many dentists will not perform x-rays on pregnant women.
I have also heard it is more dangerous to let necessary dental work go and
wind up with an infection than to get the problem taken care of during
pregnancy.
P.S. I have not yet had this tooth done, but I probably should before the
baby is born. It's much worse having this kind of thing when you're trying
to take care of a nursing newborn.
I actually broke a tooth off during the last trimester of my pregnancy. My
dentist was a member of the faculty at the local dental school and said as long
as there wasn't any pain - NOT to get any major dental work done. His wife is
an US tech at the medical center with a fertility group and the doctors there
also say NO to dental work done during pregnancy - only as an emergency to get
you out of pain. These are not just physicians but teachers so I do trust their
opinions regarding the procedures. I was lucky not to have any problems and
finished my pregnancy, gave birth to twins and THEN went and had my tooth fixed.
Actually it gave me an hour to get away from the babies, to talk adultese AND I
was BFing at the time so it can be done.
My dentist told me he would rather wait to fill a cavity till the
summer (after I deliver). Since it is quite small now - nothing I can
even feel, I agreed that was fine with me. He did, however, say that
if it gets any worse to call immediately and he'd fill it - though he
said he didn't want to have to give me any lidocaine. Hmmm ... makes
me wonder what he'll do ... :-)
I've read this too (supposedly even gum disease can cause preterm labor),
and I know some OBs who have pregnant women take antibiotics when they
have dental work done. Something to ask your doctor about.
