Breastfeeding and dental work ?

lisa5201

Wondering if there's anything I cannot/should not get done while BF'ing? I dread pumping, and def. have at least one cavity, and an old crown that is feeling awfully sensitive. Need to find a good dentist and speak to them, but if anyone can share their knowledge in the meantime it's appreciated! 

anna7602

Definitely talk to your dentist AND your pediatrician about whatever anesthetic they're using and its impact on BM. I had to be put under for a procedure (not dental) when I was still nursing and I was told I couldn't nurse for 24 hours, just pump and dump to relieve discomfort. I put off the procedure for as long as possible so that I was confident DD would be okay with a non-nursing 24-hour period (so I had the procedure done when she was around 19 months old).

anabell0920

My LC went over my meds I was administered when I had to have my gallbladder removed and DS was only 8 weeks old. I was told it was all actually safe but just to err on the side of caution and if I had enough to last 24 hours to use that. There is a book that most LC's have and LLL will for sure that has every medicine and it's affects on breast milk and what the category is for it.

Virginny

I had a dental implant put in after DS was born (I had the tooth extracted in my second trimester) and they used local anesthetic and pain killers afterward and I still BFd no problem.

rainlily

I am pretty sure that askdrsears has a blurb on dental work and breastfeeding where he says that it is safe.  The most common local anesthetic used in dental work is 2% lidocaine with epinephrine.  There are 0.36 mg of lidocaine and 0.018 mg of epi per carpule used.  (A really miniscule amount of these meds).  Most of the info online is about lidocaine being used in greater amounts (like for epidurals).  I routinely used anesthetic on nursing moms when I practiced dentistry with no problems.  I did not use more than one or two carpules at a time.  HTH.

rosiemomma

https://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/dentalwork.html:

"Both x-rays and novocaine (and other drugs used for local anesthesia, such as bupivacaine and lidocaine) are considered to be compatible with breastfeeding.

Most medications used for oral and IV sedation are considered compatible with breastfeeding.Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation is also considered to be compatible with breastfeeding. It is virtually insoluble in the bloodstream, which means it goes from your brain to your lungs to the room air immediately after you stop breathing it in. Per Hale, "it is rapidly eliminated from the body due to rapid exchange with nitrogen via the pulmonary alveoli (within minutes). A rapid recovery generally occurs within 3-5 minutes... Ingestion of nitrous oxide orally via milk is unlikely." See Conscious Sedation for more information.

A mother who has wisdom tooth surgery should not need to interrupt breastfeeding at all (except during the surgery, of course). To minimize baby's exposure (and increase mom's comfort), mom can nurse just before she goes in for the procedure. There is no need to wait on breastfeeding afterwards or to pump and dump -- mom can nurse as soon as she feels alert enough to hold baby. See Breastfeeding when mom has surgery for more information on breastfeeding and general anesthesia"

 

 https://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t029000.asp

"only an insignificant amount could get into your milk, so it is safe to breastfeed following a local anesthetic for dental work. Also, dental x-rays pose no problem to the breastfeeding mother or baby.

Breastfeeding is also usually considered safe following a light anesthesia , which is the type used in dental offices when patients don't want to be awake and aware during dental work. Since the inhalant (usually nitrous oxide ) is cleared so rapidly from your bloodstream, it is unlikely to enter your milk in significant quantities. Unless your doctor advises to the contrary, it is safe to breastfeed as soon as you are able. If there is some specific concern about the anesthetic passing into your milk, breastfeed your baby before the anesthetic is administered, followed by a 3-4 hour wait for the next feeding. Your doctor will be able to advise you on how rapidly the particular medicine would clear your system.