I am 29 weeks pregnant and my gums are swollen and bleed when i brush, the dentist suggested getting deep cleaning and scaling done but they will apply some anasthesia. i am not sure if it is safe to get deep cleaning done while pregnant, did any of you get it done and had a safe pregnancy?
2006-09-18 05:19:25 · 8 answers · asked by sally 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
1) Ask your obstetrician.
2) Ask to have a prophylactic course of antibiotics - just in case some of the bacteria enter your blood stream.
2006-09-18 05:23:06 · answer #1 · answered by kerangoumar 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Response to Katie - I know dentists are trained to know what's best because I am a dentist. Given what I've posted below regarding the safety of anesthesia for a fetus, wouldn't it be wiser to just postpone a scaling until after the pregnancy? I just don't see how you reconcile the risk benefit ratio here, unless you frequently perform emergency scalings. I would offer a slightly more complex answer, and I am a dentist. For routine dental cleanings also known as a prophylaxis, which are for people with a relatively healthy mouth, no anesthesia should be required, and in that case there is no reason not to have your teeth cleaned. The answer is more complex if you have more advanced gum disease also called periodontitis. This disease often requires a deeper cleaning, farther below the gums and is also called scaling and root planing. Because we go deeper under the gums it can be more uncomfortable than a "regular" cleaning and may require anesthesia. Most people think we use Novacaine, but in reality most dentists use either Lidocaine (brand name Xylocaine), Articaine (brand name Septocaine) or Mepivacaine (brand name Carbocaine) to get patients numb for this procedure. All medications including anesthesia are broken down into pregnancy risk categories for which I will give an abreviated explanation. Category "A" usually means no fetal damage was seen in human studies (few drugs have this rating because we obviosly don't test drugs on humans on purpose to see if it damages a fetus). "B" means it has not been shown to harm a fetus in animal studies. "C" means it has been shown to harm a fetus in animal studies but it might be worth the risk to use the drug (though hardly in the case of a dental cleaning). "D" means it has been shown to be harmful to the fetus in human studies. Lidocaine - the most common dental anesthetic is category "B," Articaine is category "C" and Mepivacaine is is "C." But Lidocaine and Articaine for dental use are always combined with a small amount of epinephrine (also known as adrenalin) which helps the anesthesia last longer, but sometimes results in a racing heart feeling for a few minutes after the injection. Epinephrine is category "C." This makes all dental anesthetics that are injected potentially risky, so in my opinion no dental treatment other than routine cleanings or emergency treatment for pain or severe infections/abscesses should be done on a pregnant woman. So to summarize, if your "scaling" is a routine cleaning, than it is OK, but if it is a scaling and root planing, probably not if you are going to need to be numb. Also always inform your dentist if you think you might be pregnant and usually get or need laughing gas (nitrous oxide) to receive treatment because this can cause spontaneous abortion and should never be used on or in the same room as a pregnant woman.
2016-03-27 07:41:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
most women suffer with dental problems in pregnancy due to the baby taking all the goodness. when you have anything done at the dentist you should tell them your condition that you are pregnant and how far along pregnant you are and any medical issue should be logged on the dentist form before any procedure is done during pregnancy i would not have any local injection while pregnant unless it was really really needed as it could effect unborn baby but just check with dentist
2006-09-18 06:19:15 · answer #3 · answered by sarah f 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's safe. I had a root canal while I was pregnant & the doctor said that it was ok to have local anestesia. They even prescribed ibuprofen & it's also safe for the baby. My baby is as healthy as can be.
Be very careful to cover your belly very well with the jackets that they provide for x-rays. When I saw wa dentist during pregnancy they placed 2 jackets on me just to be sure that the radiation didn't directly hit my baby.
2006-09-18 05:22:13 · answer #4 · answered by Mary 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A local anesthesia should be fine, right? Your dentist knows what is/is not safe. I would trust him/her and not risk bigger problems. What happens if you get an infection from not doing the deep cleaning?
2006-09-18 05:23:42 · answer #5 · answered by georgia b 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its afe, its worse if u dont get any dental work because it could cause the babys teeth not to be strong in the future, its the xrays u got to look out for
2006-09-18 05:23:20 · answer #6 · answered by Victoria 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is absoulutly safe. I will really help your gums.
2006-09-18 05:52:21 · answer #7 · answered by joalteeth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he has your legs in the stirrups then he is a pervert.
2006-09-18 05:28:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋