PREGNANCY AND DENTISTRY
There are two questions to evaluate dental treatment during pregnancy.
Where are you at in your pregnancy?
How urgent or emergent is the treatment that is needed?
If you present with an emergent dental need (i.e. infection, swelling, significant pain), this may be an indication to move forward with dental treatment regardless of the gestational age of the baby. A significant dental infection can pose a risk to both the mother and baby and merits dental treatment ASAP.
The second trimester is the best time to do relatively urgent dental treatment. This is the time when the mother is most comfortable, generally feeling the best, dental anesthetic is less likely to raise mother’s blood pressure, and the baby is less likely to put pressure on major blood vessels (aorta and inferior vena cava) of the mother, causing lightheadedness, when laying flat.
Routine dental cleanings can happen at any stage of pregnancy, but again the mother will be more comfortable in the 1st and 2nd trimester. Hormones during pregnancy can cause some significant gum inflammation for some mothers and staying current on routine cleanings during your pregnancy is beneficial and preventative.
Periodontal disease can increase the chances of pre-term labor and should be treated in the second trimester ideally.
Dr. Nicholson prefers not to do elective treatment during pregnancy, including elective (no cavity present) amalgam removal.
BREASTFEEDING AND DENTISTRY
For most mothers, breastfeeding after having dental treatment is acceptable and generally will not affect your baby. However, if you have concerns or would just rather be on the safe side, you can pump until the anesthetic is out of your system (generally 2-5 hrs depending on the amount of anesthetic given and your metabolism).
If you pump and “dump”- you do not have to throw it away!
- Use it in the bath
- Apply it to skin for skin irritation
- Titrate it with other breast milk (1oz of post dentistry milk with 3 oz of normally pumped milk)
Hope this helps guide you through one aspect of motherhood!
