Dental Work

magono20

Hi Ladies! I have been lurking, waiting to get out of the dreaded first trimester. I am 13 weeks and have some tooth pain.  My midwife suggests to not do x-rays, but if I have to, just do them.  Anyone do any dental work while pregnant?  It makes me really nervous, but I'm not sure I can make it through the whole pregnancy. Thank you! 

Tourmalily

It's actually super important to take care of any dental issues during pregnancy. I'd go see my dentist if I were you and make sure it doesn't develop into something serious. 

av2323

I didn't have any work other than my routine cleanings while pregnant but I was due for x-rays.  My OB said it was fine to have them done but my dental office opted to wait until the following 6 month check up.  

baby3forme

I'm in the process of getting braces and they told me X-rays are totally fine after your first trimester. 

cottingham3

Take care of it NOW!!! With my last pregnancy, I developed a nasty infection and a tooth in need of a root canal...which they would not do with me in the 3rd trimester. So, I had to "deal with it" and I was one of the contributing factors to my son's premature delivery. In and of it self it was NOT the cause, but I was already on bedrest for BP issues and I could not take the shooting pain. Go NOW while they can still do work if needed!

DuchessOfCambridge

This is reminding me I really need to get back into flossing. I was doing great for a while and then started slipping up because I would be so exhausted so early.

zigzag8412

I have an appt for a cavity filling tomorrow.  The soft spot's been around for a little over a year but hasn't been bad enough for them to do anything about.  Now they say it's probably time but I could wait if I wanted.  I told them I'd rather take care of it now then when I have to find childcare so now it is.  Doc gave a list of local anesthetics they can and can't use.  I'm 15+2 and going for it.

car1a

I actually just got home from the dentist! I looked up a bunch of info online before going just in case, and the Internet tells me definitely get any needed dental work done during pregnancy. X-rays seem fine - I'm opting out for now because it's just routine, but I would do it if I were in pain and they needed the scan to identify the issue. Dental problems can be more common during pregnancy so I'm going to go back for another cleaning in October (plus, free child care in my belly at that point!)

slaven

I had 5 fillings done last week (4 were minor) without any kind of pain medicine and I only had to be on tylenol for 24 hours. They only went too deep on 2 of them but stopped right away and adjusted their tactics. 

sophiambuenfil

My doctor and my dentist both agreed dental work is necessary and unless it's emergency they will only do it in second trimester. I just had a root canal done at 14 weeks. They'll double up on the lead aprons during xrays and use a different numbing agent for you. The dentist will also probably ask for a written authorization from your on. At least mine did.

asamapmaker

I have to get a filling this month. Boo! Not only do I hate dental work, but my husband has had 2 fillings fall out recently. I'd hate to go through it only to have mine fall out too.

cwalker042

I had a root canal done when pregnant with DS. My OB doctor was totally fine with it and said it's very important to keep up your oral hygiene with dentist appointments and treatments if need be. The only difference when pregnant is that they double vested me for X-rays and the novocaine they use is without epinephrine and it wears off quicker. But obviously always check with your OB and make your dentist aware you're pregnant. 

rachelb51212

I had a filing done a couple of weeks ago. My dentist said the best time to get dental work done is in the 2nd trimester. I didn't have X-rays but I didn't need them. I hope they figure out what's wrong!

DuchessOfCambridge

I just cancelled my 6 month appointment and scheduled two appointments during pregnancy in its place. I don't need to get anything done, just taking advantage of the insurance option and my gums are bleeding more even when I'm keeping up with flossing. Reading about gum disease and pregnancy keeps scaring me!

jka427

I need to get a tooth filled. guess I should get on that...

bcashaw

@DuchessOfCambridge I did the same thing.  I've already seen them once and will see them again when I'm further along and again in December. It's expensive but so worth it IMO.  
My grandmother was also my dentists first patient when she got out of school, my whole family has gone to her and she was so excited to see me and can't wait to treat generation 4! So that was nice to see all of them (they really are like family to us) 

DuchessOfCambridge

@bcashaw luckily I don't have to pay extra! Insurance covers two visits in six months while I'm  pregnant instead of just one. 

bcashaw

@DuchessOfCambridge that's awesome!I don't have any coverage at all so I always have to pay for the dentist. 

DuchessOfCambridge

@bcashaw does Canada not cover dental stuff nationally as well? I've never thought about it just assumed it was lumped in with medical!

bcashaw

@DuchessOfCambridge dental is not covered, I think you can sign up for free dental before the age of 18.... orthodontics isn't covered either. 
Psychotherapy isn't covered, but free counselling is available in some places. Most plastic surgery isn't covered and I recently found out (not sure if it's true) that chemo isn't covered... as in cancer chemotherapy. 

dragonfly87-2

I got a cleaning and skipped x-rays at 8 weeks. I will have one more cleaning around 8 months. 

I have a history of really bad teeth due to a medication my mother took while pregnant. So all of my baby teeth essentially crumbled or rotted out of my mouth by age 8 and I have battled cavities my whole life despite brushing and good dental hygiene. So I never skip appointments. Luckily, (knock on wood) no cavities in the past 12 months but considering I have had about 15+, it's only a small win.