Dental work while pregnant?

[BlsdMama]

I have never had dental work done, as a rule, in my first trimester.  I have two major appointments scheduled for the first week of December so to max out my insurance coverage.  They'll pay for up to $1500 worth of work and I'll have about $1900 done so it's a significant savings.  However, it's more than a little filling - it's two root canals and a crown.  

 

Thoughts?  Links? 

 

I haven't researched it in a good long while.

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

I had a wisdom teeth extracted while pregnant with both my boys. They just numbed me up and my OB/GYN approved a prescription pain killer for afterwards just in case.  I think I was given Tylenol 3, but I am not certain. Both were in 2nd/3rd trimester.

[Jan in SC]

It has been years, but I seem to remember being asked to have anything needed done during the second trimester. I was high risk with all of mine, so it might not apply to everyone.

[prairiewindmomma]

My perinatologist said that the risk of bacteria in the mouth from needed work is of more danger to the baby than getting work done.  In general, if you must have dental X-rays in the first trimester, they should be targeted and you should be double aproned, but by all means, get the work done.

 

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/0415/p1139.html

 

[Suzanne in ABQ]

If you need two root canals, then you are at double risk of major infection.  You definitely don't want that.  Take precautions (talk to you OB midwife, make sure your dentist knows you're pregnant, double drape for x-rays, go as light as you can on pain relievers), and get the work done.

 

[rjand6more]

Most dentists won't touch you in the 1st trimester unless it is for extreme pain or infection.  Not at all for elective work.  Are the root canals for areas that have been watched over time or immediate pain control?  Is it emergency or only to use up insurance?  2nd trimester is safe for all dental work, even xrays.

 

ETA: I have worked in offices that won't even do preventative treatment(cleanings) in the 1st trimester.  Other offices will.  I have never taken routine xrays(for general diagnosis at check ups) at anytime during pregnancy.

[SproutMamaK]

I've always been told to get ALL dental work done during pregnancy, because NOT getting it done puts you at a much higher risk for infection, problems, etc. As long as they haven't had to put me under, my midwives and OBs (including high risk OBs as I have high risk pregnancies) have always encouraged me to get work done ASAP, even in the first trimester, before there's a risk of anything going seriously wrong. Root canals especially I would get done (and DID get done earlier this pregnancy) in the first trimester. They have a big risk for introducing infection to your body, and the pain of having a tooth in bad shape can stress out your body more than you realize.

[horsellian]

I haven't done it myself, but in the UK it's pretty common to get dental work done during pregnancy, because it is free! NHS dentistry has charges attached for working adults normally, but not when you are pregnant, because it's so important to avoid infections etc.