Anesthesia at the dentist in pregnancy: Yes or No?

dentist in pregnancy

Anesthesia at the dentist in pregnancy: Yes or No?

Is the fear of using an anesthesia during pregnancy for dental treatment justified? Many women postpone their visit to the dentist or are not sure what to do if they have dental problems.

Here’s what you need to know.

Many women during pregnancy tend to neglect their oral health due to fears of using anesthetics or other medications. Whenever possible, it is certainly recommended to postpone some types of dental treatments. However, it is good to reassure many women about the possibility of administering local dental anesthetics even during gestation.

In some cases, it may be more harmful to the mother and baby to neglect some problems of the oral cavity. Just think of periodontal pathologies which, in particular conditions, could lead to the risk of preterm birth or the birth of underweight babies. In these cases, therefore, it is advisable to overcome your fears. And rely on the care of your trusted dentist. In fact, every dentist knows very well how to behave in these cases and will intervene with precautionary measures to ensure that the therapies performed do not interfere in any way with the health of the unborn child.

What dental care in pregnancy

To prevent dental pathologies in the gestational period. It would be advisable for the expectant mother to make check-ups before the conception of a child. So as to undergo any treatment in complete safety.

If you have problems with your teeth during pregnancy. It is preferable to wait until the second trimester or postpartum to put into practice dental treatments such as dental extractions or root canal treatments.

In general, drugs and x-rays should be avoided in the first trimester, while only emergency therapies strictly necessary for pain control should be carried out.

In the second trimester, however, it is possible for the mother to undergo simple and short-term dental therapies.

Finally, in the third trimester, treatments must be scheduled based on the mother’s health status. And the ability to resist in the supine position due to the fetal encumbrance.

However, if strictly necessary, dental care can be carried out every quarter. Infectious states or acute painful states of the oral cavity. If they are neglected, can represent a greater risk for the health of the woman and the fetus. If left untreated, infections of the oral cavity could spread through the bloodstream. It reaches the genitourinary tract and passes the amniotic membrane with risks for the fetus.

When it is not possible to postpone dental treatment, the dentist will proceed with the utmost caution. Administering only light local anesthetics or drugs appropriate to the patient’s condition.

In any case, before undertaking any type of treatment it is advisable to consult your gynecologist, who knowing in detail the state of health of the pregnant woman and the unborn child. It will be able to indicate any critical issues to which more attention should be paid.

Anesthesia yes or no?

The ‘ local anesthesia dentistry, if practiced with all the attention the case, has no contraindications for the expectant mother and the baby.

Since it is an exclusively local type of anesthesia. It is in fact eliminated from the body in a short time. Moreover, the chemical composition of this type of anesthetics is not able to cross the placental membrane, therefore it cannot cause any damage to fetal health.

Undesirable effects may arise only in the event of an overdose or injection directly into the bloodstream.

However, it is advisable to consult with your gynecologist before using any type of anesthetic. We remind you that any small operations under local anesthesia can be performed between the third and sixth months of pregnancy.

Other Medicines

Taking some types of drugs that are normally prescribed after specific dental treatments is not recommended during pregnancy. In any case, it is preferable to avoid taking any type of medicine in the first 12 weeks of gestation.

However, when drug therapy is indispensable, the adoption of various precautions is sufficient to minimize the risks for the child. For example, among the antibiotics, penicillins, macrolides, and cephalosporins are to be preferred, while among the analgesics the most suitable is paracetamol.

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