Dental treatment pregnancy

[cheekbyjowl]

I know check ups are free on nhs but are you allowed anesthetic when pregnant before treatment...fillings, crown fittings are carried out?

[bonzo77]

As a dentist I give patients the option of limiting treatment to preventative and emergency care only during pregnancy. However, if required, local anaesthetic is absolutely ok. Avoid one called citanest though as it contains a drug that is similar to the ones involved in labour, albeit in tiny amounts. It's not used often though in healthy adults.

The reason I suggest avoiding routine / elective treatment is that, as someone who has miscarried, if I had had any treatment prior to that I would have always wondered if the two were linked. Ditto if the baby had later had something wrong. This is not based on evidence or fact, but on gut instincts as a mother. I tell patients that, and if they wish to proceed, knowing that actually dental treatment is safe, I do. Most do not. I apply the same to X-rays, and will take them to treat an emergency, but not routinely. Remember, you get free NHS treatment for 12 months after the baby is born, so I would wait till then. Do go to take full advantage of check ups and scaling though!

[cheekbyjowl]

Thank you very much for replying. Ive broken the cusp of a molar. Its not painful so.im hoping theyll be able to do a patch up until july. I dont want to loose the.tooth but would love to avoid anything intrusive, particularly x rays if I can.Its really good to have a mums perspective, thank you