Pregnant and need Dental Work

[Kel Kel1]

Good Morning!

I have a question, as some of you know im  17 weeks pregant. The thing is  im going to need dental work. i think i need a post and a crown.  Has anyone have this done?  I need novacane and an x-ray.  I called my doc. but am waiting on a call back so im just wondering if anyone else had this experiance?  

Thanks for any imput.  Have a wonderful day!

[greenpixie]

You should definitely skip the X-ray, but I'm not sure about the novacane.

[jennyjwv]

i was going to have to get my wisdom teeth out and I found out i was pregnant and my gyn gave me paper that i could have local anesthetic which i believe would be novacaine or whatever they use to numb your gums...so you should be alright..unfortunately that pregnancy ended in m/c and i just had my wisdom teeth out a couple weeks ago before ttc again.  wish me luck as this past weekend we ttc!!!!  :)
good luck to you.

[Kel Kel1]

thanks for the input.

Baby dust to you ******************** ill say alittle prayer!

[cutiemama]

If it's absolutely positive necessary to have an xray then make sure that the dentist puts extra protection around your abdomen AND thyroid. I have read that if dental work is necessary than it's better to have an xray once with xtra protection than to allow further tooth decay which can cause problems in your pregnancy such as preterm labour. I believe that novacaine is pretty safe too. Now that you're in your 3rd timester it's pretty safe to have dental work done but again, if you can avoid xrays, that would be best.

[Kel Kel1]

thanks im still waiting for my doc to call!  actually im in my 2nd trimester, is it still pretty safe? im scared about the x-ray thing!

[slund]

I am 10 weeks pregnant and I also need dental work.  My dr. said that dental x-rays now days are safe. He advised waiting until my 2nd trimester, but said thatthey put protection on you and that is is just fine to get them if needed.  I don't know about the novacaine, but he knows I need that to and didn't advise against it.

[cutiemama]

Oops! Typo about the 3rd trimester. I know you're in the 2nd.

[duehring]

I had to have a crown and dental work with this pregnancy and I was only 6 weeks. They did an x-ray but triple protected me with 3 coverings. Make sure your neck is covered too to cover your thyroid. I read that a dental x-ray is like 3 days of being exposed to the sun. That made me feel a little better. I am now 37 weeks pregnancy with the same pregnancy and everything looks fine. I was really worried too though.
Being in your 2nd trimester I wouldn't worry at all.

[angelbaby2]

There are two types of novicane, one is safe for pregnancy but the other is not. Be sure to tell you dentist you're pg and  want the safer one. X-rays are a mixed bag. I wouldn't want one while pg. Mamograms are most likely different, but they told me that birth defects have results from 1st trimester mamograms.

[TriciaAS]

I work in a dental office and we come across these situations all the time. As long as you are past your 1st trimester,(which you are) you can have dental work done. You can also have local anaesthetic. It won't be a problem at all. We don't recommend the regular check up xrays when your pregnant. But if there is an emergency, you'll need an x-ray. There's no effect on the fetus with one x-ray. You'll have a lead apron on protecting your belly anyways.
We took an x-ray on a pregnant patient and her baby is very happy and healthy.
The x-ray will not touch your belly area.
The dose is very low anyways.
Usually a post and core is done on a root canalled tooth. have you had that done yet?

[Kel Kel1]

no its a old root canal that the tooth has chiped.  The doc sent me a letter stating the things that are ok.  Im thinking i need a post and a crown but im no dentist so i guess ill just make an appointment for a conceltation...thanks for your advice!

[Jah02e]

I am 18 weeks 4 days and I had to have a root canal around 16 weeks.  They had to do an xray cause my tooth had chipped and they wanted to see what was going on.  The part of my tooth that chipped was stuck in between and causing some pain.  They protected me good by covering me twice.  I haven't had any problems, so I think you will be ok.  Just don't stress out about worrying over it.  Good Luck!

[d_annie]

im 28 weeks pregnant and im scheduled to get a 2 root canals tomorrow and i asked the dentist if it was ok and he said yeah... should i be worried?

[Jeanne1171]

A few days ago THREE pregnancy tests stated "pregnant".  Yes, one wasn't good enough. lol  Last year I was around 4 months or so pregnant (doc never really did know since I sprained an ankle, went into shock, had xrays all without knowing I was prego), well 4 months or so later, I had a miscarriage.  It was AWFUL!  Doc said by what he saw, I was probably farther along than what was expected (I think they thought I was around 3 months originally).  So as you can see, I'm SCARED TO DEATH!
NOW.........a root canal I had done months ago.......apparently he didn't get all the root out!  I have been in pain, severe today......for past week.  I just made an appt. for a week from now.....which had I known then BEFORE the intense pain I've endured all day.....
I've left 2 messages on the phone for this doctor who apparently did NOT do his job  correctly that I want/NEED to be seen first thing Monday morning.  I'm scared of the xray, I'm scared of the Novocaine or whatever they use!  I'm sure he'll have to give multiple shots to numb this area.  I cannot even touch the tooth!!  I'm also afraid of an infection hurting the baby.  Please reply on the xrays (which I'm pretty sure will be ok be reading past posts), Novocaine, and infection travelling down to the baby.
I do not want to go back to this dentist since 1.  I never was fully numb which is strange for me.  2.  He apparently didn't do his job correctly the first time, what's going to make him do it right the second time?!  He's supposed to be a specialist at this!  
Per my insurance, they will not cover "another root canal" on the same tooth within a 2 year period.  So in order for this to be at no expense to me, I have to go back to this guy.  Lord help me.
Anyways, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Jeanne

[Jeanne1171]

Ok, called a different dentist and I am meeting her on a SUNDAY to pull this molar!  I don't want to wait any longer and she said Novocaine is fine (I asked a LOT?), she said yes, a lot is ok.  
So wish me well tomorrow, I'm going to get rid of this pain.....hopefully!!