Is it possible to treat teeth during pregnancy?

Consultation with a doctor A pregnant woman is bombarded with myths from all sides about what can and cannot be done during this period. These superstitions even affect dental procedures. Pregnant women, listening to outside advice, refuse pain relief while undergoing gum treatment and endure pain, or try to avoid visiting the dentist altogether. But often such myths are completely inconsistent with modern reality. The article will help you figure out whether it is possible to treat teeth during pregnancy, remove them, take x-rays, give painkillers, or perform prosthetics.

Is it possible to treat teeth during pregnancy?

Most dentists will answer that teeth can not only be treated during pregnancy, but should also be treated if such a need arises. After all, caries, gum inflammation and other problems cause not only discomfort, but can also provoke pregnancy complications.

The period of bearing a baby is divided into three trimesters. Let's figure out when you can treat teeth during pregnancy, what period is the safest for such manipulations.

In the first trimester (weeks 1-12), the formation of the baby’s organs occurs, while the placenta, the main barrier, is not yet fully formed. This period is considered the most vulnerable, since any adverse external influence can lead to malformations and premature termination of pregnancy. In the first trimester, if necessary, simple treatment is usually carried out; more complex procedures are postponed to the second trimester, but depending on the situation, exceptions are possible.

The second trimester (13-25 weeks) is considered the most favorable for dental treatment during pregnancy. During this period, toxicosis no longer bothers the expectant mother and it will not be difficult for her to remain in one position for a long time.

In the third trimester (26-40 weeks), treatment is mainly carried out for emergency reasons. This is due to the following features of this period:

a woman should not remain in a supine position for a long time due to compression of the inferior vena cava and aorta, so all manipulations are performed in a short time, or on the right side;
the risk of premature birth increases.

It is important to understand that if a tooth hurts during pregnancy, you should not put off visiting a doctor. Pain provokes complex biochemical processes in the body, causing enormous stress that can harm mother and baby. Regardless of the trimester, the doctor will provide assistance that will be as gentle and safe as possible.

Content:

Is it possible to treat pulpitis in pregnant women?
Features of the fight against pulpitis during pregnancy
How to avoid pulpitis during pregnancy
Risks to the fetus if pulpitis is not treated

Pulpitis is a disease in which the internal tissues of the tooth - the pulp - become inflamed.
It leads to severe pain symptoms. Toothache becomes especially severe at night. As the body tries to fight off the infection, your body temperature may rise. If pulpitis occurs in a pregnant woman, you should not hesitate to seek qualified dental care. The doctor can help the patient in an “interesting situation” without harming the health of the fetus. Under no circumstances should a woman tolerate the symptoms of the disease. Gradually they may disappear, but this does not mean that the inflammation has subsided. Simply, pulpitis will turn into a chronic form, which is very insidious.

Do teeth deteriorate during pregnancy?

Hormonal and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy can aggravate the course of some dental diseases. For this reason, it is recommended to carry out a complete sanitation of the oral cavity at the planning stage. If your teeth were healthy before pregnancy, then after, if you follow all the recommendations (proper hygiene, consuming enough microelements), they will remain the same. Pregnancy will not affect their condition in any way.

The main cause of caries and gum inflammation is dental plaque. Therefore, the risk of their development directly depends on the quality of personal and professional oral hygiene, which should not be neglected while bearing a child.

It is not uncommon for a wisdom tooth to make itself felt during pregnancy. The gums above it begin to ache, making it difficult to eat. It is also important to think about this at the planning stage - visit the dentist, if necessary, excision of the mucous membrane over the wisdom teeth, or it may be necessary to remove the wisdom tooth.

How to avoid pulpitis during pregnancy

To reduce the likelihood of developing the disease during pregnancy, you need to:

Get examined at your dentist's office while preparing for pregnancy and in the first weeks after conception.
Visit the dentist promptly as prescribed by the gynecologist.
Eat right, eat less sweets.
Carefully monitor oral hygiene.
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. They contribute to the natural cleansing of dental crowns from soft plaque.
Use high-quality toothpaste and brush.
Take prenatal vitamins prescribed by your gynecologist.

Is it possible to do dental x-rays?

The most common misconception is that dental x-rays are prohibited during pregnancy. X-rays can indeed have a negative effect on the child, therefore such studies of the lungs and other organs are contraindicated during this period. But with dental x-rays, the risks are minimal, since:

the emitted waves are so weak that they do not affect the baby;
the rays are directed exclusively to the area under study;
The chest and stomach are covered with a protective lead apron.

Under such conditions, the penetration of radiation through the tissues of the mother to the child is excluded.

Some clinics use dental microscopes for diagnostics instead of X-rays, the contraindications to their use are minimal.

Dental treatment during pregnancy

Often, the period of waiting for a baby is associated with the appearance of various health problems, in particular with teeth. This phenomenon is observed in women even if there were no such problems before. Pregnancy is a difficult period during which doctors have to decide how safe treatment for various diseases of the teeth and oral cavity will be for the fetus. This article addresses issues that will interest many expectant mothers.

The effect of pregnancy on dental health
Factors that affect dental health
Possible consequences for dental diseases
The most favorable timing for treatment
Dental treatment for pregnant women: Filling
Removal
Anesthesia and X-ray
Prosthetics
Whitening

Prevention: how to prevent dental problems

The effect of pregnancy on dental health

Changes for the worse in most cases are associated with hormonal imbalance. Under the influence of an increased amount of progesterone, blood supply to all organs, including the gums, increases. As a result, the tissues become softer and looser, which greatly facilitates the access of pathogens to them. The result of this is stomatitis, gingivitis and caries.

Untreated pathologies contribute to the development of more serious diseases:

periodontitis;
pulpitis;
tissue suppuration;
necrosis;
abscesses;
cyst formation;
sepsis;
osteomyelitis of bone tissue.

If the crown is destroyed, the shape and structure of the tooth changes, its mobility increases and the bite changes, which disrupts the digestive function.

During pregnancy, the acid-base balance of saliva always changes. This happens due to:

hypersolivation or increased salivation;
toxicosis;
eating a significant amount of simple carbohydrates that are broken down directly by saliva.

The pH shift leads to thinning (demineralization) of tooth enamel and accelerated spread of the carious process. A change in the composition of the secretion of the salivary glands and its acidity, combined with reduced immunity, also leads to accelerated formation of plaque, which can transform into tartar.

Factors that affect dental health

Despite the fact that all pregnant women experience the above changes in their bodies, not everyone experiences problems with their teeth. This happens because there are a number of aggravating factors that contribute to the appearance of various pathologies of the teeth and oral cavity. Among them:

Heredity. Bad teeth at a young age in an expectant mother indirectly indicate the presence of similar problems in her parents.
Unfair implementation of hygiene measures. In addition to daily procedures for cleaning the oral cavity, a woman is required to regularly visit the dentist during gestation. This is done in order to identify early signs of oral diseases, as well as timely elimination of problems.
Poor nutrition. Dental diseases are caused by eating foods low in vitamins, minerals and other beneficial elements.
Chronic stress. In such situations, cortisol levels increase. Under the influence of this hormone, local and general immunity, which is already weakened in a pregnant woman, decreases. As a result, pathogenic microorganisms are activated, ultimately causing diseases of the teeth and oral cavity.
Bad habits. In addition to the well-known smoking and drinking alcohol, which have a harmful effect on the acidity and composition of saliva, and also impair the absorption of beneficial substances, these include the habit of gnawing hard candies and nuts, and opening lids with your teeth.

Existing chronic diseases also have a negative impact on the condition of teeth. These include diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (colitis, gastritis, enteritis), endocrine system (thyroid problems, diabetes), and musculoskeletal system (osteoporosis, arthrosis, arthritis). All of them create favorable conditions for disturbances in calcium metabolism in the body. As a result, it is much less absorbed, which entails demineralization of bone tissue and enamel.

Possible consequences for dental diseases

If a pregnant woman has problems, the question invariably arises: to treat her teeth now or is it better to wait until childbirth? Experts advise not to delay, because dental diseases are a source of chronic infection, which can cause:

gestosis;
infection of amniotic fluid and membranes of the membranes;
spontaneous abortion and miscarriage in the first trimester;
late premature birth.

Pathogenic microorganisms from the outbreak in the mouth spread through the bloodstream throughout the body of the expectant mother and easily penetrate to the fetus, resulting in its infection. The child is born at low birth weight with reduced immunity; he may have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system, as well as the skin.

The most favorable timing for treatment

The best option is to treat chronic foci of infection before conception. Unfortunately, most often women neglect examination at the planning stage or the pregnancy turns out to be unexpected. During the entire period, every expectant mother is required to visit the dentist three times for preventive purposes:

after the first visit to the gynecologist;
at 30–32 weeks;
before childbirth.

When diagnosing problems with teeth and/or gums, you will have to visit the dentist much more often. When prescribing treatment and preventive procedures, the gestational age is taken into account, since each period has its own characteristics:

First trimester. Its duration is 14 weeks. During this period, the placental barrier has not yet been formed, but at the same time all the systems and internal organs of the child are formed. The vulnerability of the embryo to stress, which may well include a visit to the dentist, and medications is very high. Therefore, dental treatment during pregnancy of this period is carried out only in cases where the benefit prevails and only after agreeing on the tactics with the gynecologist.
Second trimester. Lasts from 14 to 26 weeks. At this time, psycho-emotional stability is observed, the placental barrier is fully formed and is able to fully perform a protective function, and the child’s organ formation has completed. This stage is considered the most favorable for carrying out various manipulations.
Third trimester. It is undesirable to treat teeth in the last weeks of pregnancy due to the acute reaction of the uterus to external irritants and the high risk of developing acute vascular insufficiency due to compression of the inferior vena cava and aorta when in a horizontal position. In case of acute pain, tooth extraction or treatment is carried out immediately, regardless of the stage of pregnancy.

Dental treatment for pregnant women

The choice of treatment tactics depends on what manipulations experts allow and which they advise to postpone until the postpartum period due to a possible high risk to the fetus. For acute pain, it is permissible to use such traditional medicine recipes as:

rinsing with decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, sage, calendula, St. John's wort, mint), a solution of sea salt and soda;
applying propolis or a cotton swab moistened with oil extracts of cloves, fir, sea buckthorn to the most painful point;
applying an application of chopped onions with the addition of garlic and salt.

It is imperative to consider whether there are any unwanted reactions to any of the products. All these remedies are used only to relieve acute pain at home, but do not replace a visit to the dentist. At the first opportunity, you should visit a doctor to eliminate the cause of toothache.

Sealing
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The presence of caries of any degree is an indication for a filling, regardless of gestational age. A small hole during pregnancy can transform into a large cavity that can destroy a tooth, or become a trigger for the development of pulpitis or osteomyelitis. Superficial and medium caries are treated without anesthesia; for deep caries, a drug with an anesthetic effect is used. All types of filling materials can be used. If it is necessary to remove the nerve, arsenic-free paste is used.
Removal
Tooth extraction is always very stressful, so if possible it is better to postpone it until the postpartum period. If this procedure cannot be avoided in any way, then it is best to carry it out in the second semester. The tooth is removed after radiography and under local anesthesia. The main indications for manipulation are severe pulpitis, a severely damaged crown, a tumor or a cyst on the apex of the tooth. It is very important that after extraction a woman follows the dentist’s recommendations for preventing complications.
Anesthesia and X-ray
Fears about the use of x-rays and anesthesia are completely unfounded. Modern digital equipment and medications with an analgesic effect do not pose a particular danger to the fetus. In addition to the fact that the X-rays are directed strictly at the tooth being examined, the radiation dose is minimal. Anesthetics used during pregnancy do not cause narrowing of the vascular walls and practically do not penetrate to the baby through the placenta.
Prosthetics
The installation of prostheses during pregnancy has no special contraindications, since the manipulations performed do not pose any harm to the baby. In order to align the bite and dentition, it is possible to install special supporting mouthguards. The only thing that is not recommended is installing implants. Too much energy is spent on tooth implantation, which will not be enough for the normal development of the fetus. In addition, during implantation, drugs prohibited during pregnancy are prescribed, the effect of which is aimed at suppressing the immune system.
Whitening
Among all manipulations related to teeth, professional cleaning of tooth enamel from plaque and tartar using chemical pastes and other means is completely prohibited. In extreme cases, the mechanical method is allowed, as well as the use of ultrasonic or laser equipment. It is best to postpone bleaching and cleaning until a more favorable period.

Prevention: how to prevent dental problems

In addition to preventive examinations by dentists, a woman herself needs to follow a number of rules to help preserve her teeth:

1. Hygiene measures:

2-time daily brushing of teeth with a soft toothbrush and a paste based on herbal ingredients;
use of dental floss (floss);
the use of rinses and chewing gums with xylitol;

2. Proper nutrition, including foods rich in:

calcium;
phosphorus;
vitamin D;

3. Taking vitamin complexes designed for pregnant women.

Taking care of your teeth and following the dentist’s instructions is incomparably easier than treating them later, experiencing stress and worrying about the baby’s health!

Is it possible to give painkillers to pregnant women?

Dental anesthesia during pregnancy is not contraindicated; on the contrary, it helps reduce pain and stress, which negatively affect the condition of mother and baby.

Modern anesthetics based on articaine are absolutely safe during pregnancy, because:

The drug is injected exclusively into the area of intended intervention, and its entire volume is distributed there.
The drug does not enter the bloodstream and deep tissues, so its penetration through the placenta to the baby is impossible.

The newest drugs for pain relief also reduce the content of vasoconstrictor components. The child will not experience any discomfort or lack of nutrients during the mother’s treatment.

Causes of gum pain

Patients begin to panic, feeling severe pain in the gums after tooth extraction. This happens after 2-3 hours, when the anesthesia wears off. However, physiologically everything is fine.

The free space left after extraction is called a socket. It initiates healing processes, accompanied by active hematopoiesis and osteoregeneration.

Longer and more painful healing may be due to the following circumstances:

the further away the problematic tooth was located, the more unpleasant the patient’s sensations;
tooth extraction was carried out in parts, for example, due to severe destruction of the crown or irregularly shaped roots;
During the removal process, additional washing of the hole was required due to the discovery of a granuloma (suppuration of the apical part of the root).

Any complex extraction is fraught with errors, which can lead to complications and long-term pain in the gums.

Removal and prosthetics of teeth

Tooth extraction during pregnancy is not prohibited, but the operation is performed only in cases of urgent need. Each case is considered by a doctor individually. To numb a tooth after extraction, only safe medications are used during pregnancy.

Removal of nerves in a tooth during pregnancy is carried out in case of deep caries, when the infection has already penetrated the root canal and affected the pulp; otherwise, they try to cure the nerve using conservative methods.

Prosthetics are possible, but also with limitations. It is possible to install crowns, but it is better to postpone the implantation of an artificial implant. This is due to the fact that:

the implantation process is quite complicated and requires a lot of effort;
in the postoperative period it is necessary to take strong painkillers and antibiotics, which are not safe for the child;
During the period of bearing a child, there is a high risk of rejection of foreign material.

It is not only possible, but also necessary to treat teeth while carrying a child. Timely treatment will keep the mother healthy and prevent the possibility of infection of the fetus. Modern drugs and anesthetics, developed specifically for pregnant women, not only do not have a toxic effect, but also make the treatment as painless and comfortable as possible.

Before visiting the clinic, you can consult with friends who have undergone similar procedures, find out how teeth were treated during pregnancy, and which dentist.
The experience of other people will help you cope with fear. When visiting a doctor, it is important to notify about your condition. The doctor's consultation

What is the difficulty of root canal treatment and why is it important to seal them well?

In order to carry out high-quality canal treatment and thereby ensure a long life for a “dead” tooth, it is necessary to remove all infected pulp (nerve) from the root canal, disinfect the canals and seal them hermetically.

The main difficulty in treating canals is their shape.

Below we present several videos that demonstrate a simplified version of the structure of tooth canals and options for filling them.

If all teeth had canals of such a simple shape, their treatment would not require virtuoso skills and complex equipment from dentists.

Endodontics - the treatment of canals and inflammatory processes developing around the roots of teeth, is rightfully considered the most complex branch of dentistry.

You should immediately consult a doctor if:

pain intensifies or persists for more than 24 hours;
bleeding from the socket intensifies or persists for more than 12 hours;
one or more sutures placed by a doctor are lost;
there was a putrid odor from the mouth;
it is difficult or painful to open your mouth;
the increase in body temperature is significant (more than 39 degrees Celsius) or persists for more than 24 hours;
swelling increases or persists for more than 3 days;
mobility of adjacent teeth occurred.

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Pain after filling

Most often, pain appears after removing the nerve and filling the canal. The reasons are usually poor-quality filling of cavities, allergic reactions to materials used for treatment, or microtrauma to tissues. The patient may experience the following symptoms:

the tooth is sensitive to hot, cold food, touch;
when closing the jaws, chewing, discomfort is felt;
sharp, twitching pain develops at night and in the evening;
eating becomes difficult.

General health worsens, headaches, tissue inflammation, and swelling of the cheek appear. If this condition lasts more than a week, you should urgently consult a doctor for treatment.