OT - anyone have dental work while preg?
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| Thu, 03-16-2006 - 5:52pm |
Just wondering if anyone here had dental work (other than cleaning/check-up) done while they were pregnant?
I'm 26, and all four of my wisdom teeth came through in the last few months (fun to be teething along with my one-year-old, huh LOL). Anyway, I'd been told as a teenager they'd probably never come in, but shouldn't be a problem, and yet here they are. One of them has really been bothering me the past few days, and I'm not sure if it's a problem or if it's just still making room/not completely through, KWIM? But it hurts a LOT, especially at night. Unfortunately, we just switched insurance and have only two dentists to choose from, but when I called them they pretty much dismissed me saying if it was a problem with a wisdom tooth (I'm guessing assuming they'd have to take it out), they wouldn't do a thing about it anyway, and I'd have to contact an Oral Surgeon!
Now I'm no expert here, but I don't think you can have anything but local anesthesia while pregnant, and I'd be really wary of taking pain killers afterward (which I'd need a LOT of). Incidentally, I'm also deathly afraid of any such dental work, so there's no way I could be awake for it (I've only ever had one small cavity in my life, and having that filled was pure torture for me ... and yet I have no problem with natural child-birth - go figure LOL).
Anyway, just wondering if anyone else had any experience with having wisdom teeth removed or other work done while pregnant? Or if you just want to put my mind at ease, because I'm really freaking out here (I do NOT need to go through something like that just before giving birth ... or just after assuming I have to wait this out and deal with the pain a while longer! Argh!).
TIA!
~Kelli

I'm an office manager for a general dentist, and I can tell you how we treat pregnant patients. With the exception of cleanings, we usually advise patients to avoid dental work while pregnant if possible, especially during the first trimester. At our office, we will do fillings and other restorative work during the second and third trimesters, but other more invasive procedures such as root canals and extractions are referred to specialists. In the case of wisdom teeth, unfortunately that does mean an oral surgeon.
There are a couple reasons for this. An oral surgeon is also an MD, and may be more prepared to handle unexpected complications than a general dentist. Also, since the surgeon has specialized equipment, the surgery is accomplished faster, and so is the recovery time. Bad news, whether you are treated by a general dentist or an oral surgeon, it is very likely that any work would be done with just a local anesthetic. General anesthetic is too hard on the baby--he/she is not exposed to much anesthetic with a local. Also, you would not be able to use nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to relax you. Post-op, the doctor would give you pain relievers (most likely codeine), but you would want to use them as sparingly as possible.
If you're really scared, and want to be knocked out, I'd wait if you can. I'm sorry you're hurting.
Thanks to both of you for your replies. I'm really hoping (and praying!) it's not as serious as it feels, what with my due date approaching and my general fear of all medical procedures involving my mouth! (Seriously, I've had nightmares LOL).
I'm not sure if I mentioned in my original post, but I can't go to my old dentist because my husband has a new job almost an hour away now, so all of our "approved" dentists are just as far away (other than the two we did find within about 20 minutes of us).
There was one more listed just a bit farther away, but they were listed as a DMD rather than DDS. Does this mean they would be able to handle a wisdom tooth problem, or is it still different?
There's no way I can have anything like that done without being completely out, I'm just afraid by waiting until after Aila's born it could cause further complications. :(
Anyway, thanks for the input. If anyone has any other experience let me know ... I appreciate it!
~Kelli
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