Dentist visit @ 36 weeks

nbad311

I have my semi-annual checkup/cleaning in mid-January, when I'll be around 36w.  I'm assuming dental visits are fine, or even encouraged, while pregnant (except maybe x-rays) but a friend told me she had hers around 30w and it was super uncomfortable and she was getting nauseas very easily.  My insurance works on a calendar year basis, so unfortunately I couldn't just get this visit out of the way sooner because I have to wait until 2015 rolls around for coverage.  I can possibly push it to one of the first days of January, but obviously I'm still way pregnant at that point! 

So, anyone have experience with dentist appointments late in pregnancy?  Should I reschedule for like..... a month or two after baby comes, or just keep my appointment?  For what it's worth, I don't anticipate any issues and will likely be in and out with just a cleaning in 45 minutes, so it should be a pretty easy visit (now that I say that, 5 cavities will start brewing)

foxslaw

If it were me, I would just keep your appointment. I'm a FTM, though so I don't have personal experience.

mrsclark731

I have a cleaning scheduled for tomorrow. I have to bring a note from my OB saying that it is 'ok.' I guess you should let your dentist know how many weeks you will be and see what they say?

MaddScientist

stalking with no advice because I am in need of a dentist and know you are in the ATL area...do you have aetna by any chance?

nbad311

foxslaw said:

If it were me, I would just keep your appointment. I'm a FTM, though so I don't have personal experience.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards keeping it before all hell breaks lose and dental visits get pushed way down on the priorities list

@mrsclark731 , thanks, I'll give them a call and see if they require a note or anything like that. 

michelle142

I was there last week and had no issues. Had 2 cleanings during my last pregnancy and had no issues. Unless your gag reflex is super amplified right now, you shouldn't have any issues. If you're uncomfortable on your back for that long, most hygienists are happy to give you a little break or try to keep you more upright.

PeaceofKia

I just had a dental appt yesterday and as long as I was lying completely flat, I was fine. But I think each person is  different...

nbad311

MaddScientist said:

stalking with no advice because I am in need of a dentist and know you are in the ATL area...do you have aetna by any chance?

I do have aetna health insurance, but MetLife for dental coverage.  Sorry!

michelle142

I just realized I said "issues" way too many times in my response. I'm now annoyed with myself.

bhjones1980

I did a cleaning around 35 weeks with DS and I am not going to lie, it was NOT pleasant!

laying back in the chair got very uncomfortable, pressure on your back and abdomen, and my gag reflex was off the charts.

I survived but it wasnt fun.

agm04

I went a few weeks ago and it was totally fine.  I think more bleeding in the gums is normal.  I was thinking that my next visit might be a bit delayed given the baby, so I wanted to make sure I got it taken care of.

crystalw88

I foresee no issues as a hygienist. A trick I learned in school was to place a pillow behind the patient so that she is leaning to the left.   

jknallen

I just went the other and it was totally fine. I'd keep your appointment bc it may be awhile before you can go after baby comes. All depends on your baby and you.

dees14

I went recently and it was no different than usual. They just held off on the X-rays.

chickyclg

I need to schedule mine but I am terrified I will be miserable.

mali3

I have had a cleaning at 37 weeks before. Its no problem at all...the only thing i had was more sensative gums because of pregnancy so there was a little blood. Other than that it was no issue. You are right, no xrays!

rosieo52

I have one scheduled for January sometime. This will be my 3rd time to the dentist since BFP.  I went once right after I found out I was pregnant and they suggested to come at the 3 month mark because of pregnancy gingivitis. So I will still go again in January because I have noticed my gums bleeding  during brushing so to try and keep my mouth healthy I think it's necessary for me. Otherwise, like others have said, it is going to get pushed way down on the priority list.

kdhuling

Not a dentist or hygienist but I worked as a receptionist at a dental office for 8 years. We saw lots of pregnant women and definitely encouraged them to continue with their appointments all through their pregnancy. For some reason pregnant women are at a higher risk for periodontal disease which is not good for you or baby so staying on top of your cleanings is smart. Talk to your hygienist and tell her if you're uncomfortable. Every hygienist I've worked with was more than willing to adjust chairs add pillows and do more suction etc to keep the patient comfortable. Also if your benefits run on a calendar year it's use it or lose it and those are benefits you or your husband have been paying into all year.

Mommalawyer

Ask your OB. I had to have a consent/authorization signed by her.

jennypolkadots

I usually go twice a year and my insurance pays for it in full. I only let them do x-rays every 5 years even though they pay for them yearly. I've never had any problems and always brush/floss. I went in March and had a regular cleaning and was due to go back in September but cancelled. No dentist visits for me during pregnancy! The extra blood flow you have will make you bleed more, and there is a small risk of infection. Mostly I just don't want to lay there an hour with someone's hand in my mouth and it's not good to lay on your back anyways this far along. 

It's great you go twice a year, but it isn't like a requirement of some sort for most healthy people. I know adults who haven't been to the dentist in 10 years, so I wouldn't sweat skipping one appointment as long as you don't have any tooth pain and have been brushing regularly. 

lynnz52

I just had a cleaning at 30 weeks. It was more painful than a non-pregnant cleaning, but my doctor strongly encouraged to have it done. They just didn't do x-rays.

I'm sure I'll forget about the dental pain when I start having labor pain.

CogDis

When I fell two weeks ago I landed so hard that I cracked half of my tooth off.

I got it fixed last week at the start of 31 weeks for me. They also rolled my check up and cleaning into the appointment (so it lasted about 1.5 hours).

They took an X-ray or two (just covered the baby with a lead vest). And I've had fairly unrelenting morning sickness (on that particular day I'd already puked 3-5 times, and the nausea was constant). I had them move my appointment back a few hours when I realized the MS was't going to cooperate and I took some gravol. They had to use a different anesthetic, but otherwise nothing else in their practise changed.

It went fine. They knew I was nauseous and so they offered me plenty of breaks. I wouldn't worry about it too much. It will suck, but the dentist always does. Similarly, the suckiness will end, like it always does with the dentist.

My dentist also said there is a lot of ignorance and a pile of myths that go around about dental work and pregnancy and that even some dentists fall for some of it (out of fear).

I think you'll be fine!

t8keepr03

I have to have a consent form signed from my OB saying it's ok in order for my dentist to see pregnant women. I went once with DD at 32 weeks and I was miserable. I am not going until I have the baby this time. I was so uncomfortable and nauseous.

cinnamonsugar

With my first I had braces with adjustments every 4 weeks the entire pregnancy with one oral surgery (only local anesthetic). It was awful.
This pregnancy, I had my teeth cleaned a week ago at 30 weeks and loved it! It felt so good to know that my teeth were getting really really clean and not just my every day get out before you puke treatment.

chicagojackie

jennypolkadots said:

I usually go twice a year and my insurance pays for it in full. I only let them do x-rays every 5 years even though they pay for them yearly. I've never had any problems and always brush/floss. I went in March and had a regular cleaning and was due to go back in September but cancelled. No dentist visits for me during pregnancy! The extra blood flow you have will make you bleed more, and there is a small risk of infection. Mostly I just don't want to lay there an hour with someone's hand in my mouth and it's not good to lay on your back anyways this far along. 

It's great you go twice a year, but it isn't like a requirement of some sort for most healthy people. I know adults who haven't been to the dentist in 10 years, so I wouldn't sweat skipping one appointment as long as you don't have any tooth pain and have been brushing regularly. 

Actually a lot of healthy adults need to be seen by a dentist twice a year for many indications. @jennypolkadots do you work in a profession where you look in people's mouths every day? Because I do and there are a lot of people with gingivitis, cavities, swollen glands, ducts, etc who need dental care routinely even though they do not feel sick (yet).

To your question, OP @nbad311 I would keep the appointment. Sometimes pregnant women have some increased bleeding in the mouth with dental exams (yay increased circulation!) but it is very good to keep up your oral hygiene at this time, especially since you might have understandable delays post-partum or whatever. See if they can position you more on your left side with a small pillow (or towel roll or your sweatshirt or something), for your overall comfort.

Remember kids, only floss the ones you want to keep!

foxslaw

jennypolkadots said:

I usually go twice a year and my insurance pays for it in full. I only let them do x-rays every 5 years even though they pay for them yearly. I've never had any problems and always brush/floss. I went in March and had a regular cleaning and was due to go back in September but cancelled. No dentist visits for me during pregnancy! The extra blood flow you have will make you bleed more, and there is a small risk of infection. Mostly I just don't want to lay there an hour with someone's hand in my mouth and it's not good to lay on your back anyways this far along. 

It's great you go twice a year, but it isn't like a requirement of some sort for most healthy people. I know adults who haven't been to the dentist in 10 years, so I wouldn't sweat skipping one appointment as long as you don't have any tooth pain and have been brushing regularly. 

^^^ there is so much assumption & misinformation in this post that I don't even know where to start. You are giving this OP a negligent, ill informed opinion. @jennypolkadots‌

jennypolkadots

OP - the other ladies are right. I need to stop sticking my foot in my mouth and rereading what I post. I've never had any dental issues and I don't work in the dental profession. I still don't think skipping a cleaning is a big deal in the grande scheme of things personally, but it's for each person to decide for themselves. Best of luck deciding! I'm sure it's safer just to go to the dentist, and it's better to get it out of the way before you have a newborn.

I got called out over on another post and realized that the tone of some of the stuff I've been posting comes across as snotty and jerk-like. Really not my intention and I'm sorry. I think I've just been having a hard time lately and spend too much time on here, and need to be more careful with what I post. It's funny because IRL I am so quiet. I'm going to take a break for a bit and hope to come back after the holidays without actin a fool.  

nbad311

No worries ladies, I'm definitely not skipping the appointment or scared to get my teeth cleaned. 
B-)

BeckyP005

Just got mine cleaned on Sat at 30 wks. I was fine except my coughing lol. I do need two crowns though which sucks

kefttsc

I had my last dentist appointment at about 20 weeks and I was so nauseated from lying on my back that I almost passed out.  I'd be skipping if I were you!  Nausea is my least favorite thing ever!

crystalw88

jennypolkadots said:

I usually go twice a year and my insurance pays for it in full. I only let them do x-rays every 5 years even though they pay for them yearly. I've never had any problems and always brush/floss. I went in March and had a regular cleaning and was due to go back in September but cancelled. No dentist visits for me during pregnancy! The extra blood flow you have will make you bleed more, and there is a small risk of infection. Mostly I just don't want to lay there an hour with someone's hand in my mouth and it's not good to lay on your back anyways this far along. 

It's great you go twice a year, but it isn't like a requirement of some sort for most healthy people. I know adults who haven't been to the dentist in 10 years, so I wouldn't sweat skipping one appointment as long as you don't have any tooth pain and have been brushing regularly. 

So many things that are wrong in this post.

1. The point of x-rays is this: as a dental professional, I do not have radiographic vision therefore I, nor a dentist, can see between teeth or into them. It is no different than a doctor suggesting an x-ray of your arm as he or she thinks it may be broken. Would you decline that? Of course not. Waiting until the decay of a tooth is visible just isn't smart at all.

2. There is always a small risk of infection as dental work, including "just a cleaning," is indeed invasive.

3. You are absolutely right in that it isn't good for pregnant women to lay on their backs but we have plenty of tips and tricks to keep these women comfortable.

4. It is FAR worse for you and baby to neglect your oral health during pregnancy whether you are an avid brusher/flosser. Our hormones are raging in us pregnant women therefore putting us at an increased risk of pregnancy gingivitis. This is a disease and not to be taken lightly. If left untreated, it can lead to periodontal disease and studies have shown a link to preterm labor. Not something I want to risk just to avoid "not laying on my back for an hour with someone else's hands in my mouth." 

5. Lastly, it is recommended that even the healthiest person visits a dentist for a routine exam and cleaning 2x a year. We don't recommend that for shits and giggles. It isn't any different than visiting your doctor for an annual.

You seem to always know the answer for everything though.

TexasMamma0809

I went recently and bled more than usual but my mouth felt so much better after a good cleaning! I had less bleeding when brushing and flossing at home and the benefits outweighed the short discomfort. I wish insurance covered another pregnancy dentist visit!

twinklymama

Am I wrong in thinking that @animalcrckr‌ is a DDS?

Beth.1212

I've never had any problems with my dentist visits while pregnant. I didn't need a note, but I guess every dentist is different. I did opt to skip the X-ray (with my DS the dentist would have done them but respected my choice to wait, with this pregnancy the dentist actually recommended putting the X-rays off). I've heard that dental problems can be linked to preterm labor - though I don't have any hard info on that so don't quote me - so I think dental visits are a good idea while pregnant. 

anxiousmommy85

I cracked a tooth in half last week, too. Because I'm at 34 weeks they wouldn't do x-rays or use anesthesia, so they just went with a temporary filling and scheduling an appointment for a more permanent fixtures the week after my due date. However, I have been told that aside from x rays, cleanings are just fine.