Pregnancy is overwhelming enough without having to worry about tooth problems. But if you are in pain because of a cavity, you can rest assured that any procedure to correct this problem, be it a cleanup, a dental filling or fitting of a dental crown, you or your baby will not be in any danger.
General dentists or family dentists are trained to know the extra precautions that need to be taken for expectant mothers, such as minimizing the use of oral medication and anesthetic for surgeries. Any experienced dentist in Worcester can help you to get the right treatment without undergoing any risks and he can also talk you through any procedure that you are not comfortable about.
Typically, the only procedures that a pregnant woman would be denied at the dentist would be cosmetic dentistry, which includes teeth whitening and fixing porcelain veneers. This is because the chemicals used for these methods create an unnecessary risk, even though they are used in minute amounts.
When it comes to medicine, there is no consensus about which ones are harmful to the developing baby but all dental professionals will advice against the use of oral medicine, unless it is very necessary. Typically Lidocaine is the drug used by dentists as an anesthetic but even this can enter the baby through the placenta. Still, you cannot undergo any surgery without an anesthetic, so it's best that you tell the dentist if you are feeling pain despite the use of the drug. The dentist may then add some more anesthetic. It's important to relieve any stress on you and your baby, so don't feel guilty about having to be anesthetized.
Remember to tell your dentist that you are pregnant if you are in the early weeks of pregnancy and are not showing. A few steps that were a regular feature of your checkups may now be stopped, such as the use of x-rays. The American College of Radiology states that the amounts of x-rays used to analyze the tooth structure are negligible and therefore not harmful to a developing baby but most dentists prefer to exercise caution, leaving nothing to chance.
The first trimester as you probably know is the trickiest in terms of safety. This is because the vital organs of the baby are developing at that time. If you are in the third semester and come across a potential problem in your teeth, the dentist would usually advise you to wait a bit more for treatment, until the baby is born. Any intense pain or stress can trigger premature labor.
Here are a few more tips for you to remember:
• Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste (recommended by the American Dental Association) and floss on a daily basis.
• Eat a balanced diet consisting of many fruits and vegetables. Snack on apples and carrots when you are craving food; it's better than treating yourself to sweets and sugary drinks, which can harm your teeth.
• Don't miss the regular checkup. Get teeth cleaned if necessary.
• Postpone any non-urgent dental work until you are in your second trimester or after birth. But make sure that you do keep the postponed appointments and not cast dental issues aside once your bundle of joy arrives.
• Engage in moderate exercise as recommended by your gynecologist in order to maintain good blood circulation, an effective method to deter disease causing germs.
• When visiting the dentist, take a pillow or something comfortable for your back until you are taken in. You can take along some music to relax while you wait.
• When in a dentist's chair, don't cross your legs. This action, which may seem harmless to you, actually puts undue pressure on one leg and interrupts healthy circulation.
General dentists or family dentists are trained to know the extra precautions that need to be taken for expectant mothers, such as minimizing the use of oral medication and anesthetic for surgeries. Any experienced dentist in Worcester can help you to get the right treatment without undergoing any risks and he can also talk you through any procedure that you are not comfortable about.
Typically, the only procedures that a pregnant woman would be denied at the dentist would be cosmetic dentistry, which includes teeth whitening and fixing porcelain veneers. This is because the chemicals used for these methods create an unnecessary risk, even though they are used in minute amounts.
When it comes to medicine, there is no consensus about which ones are harmful to the developing baby but all dental professionals will advice against the use of oral medicine, unless it is very necessary. Typically Lidocaine is the drug used by dentists as an anesthetic but even this can enter the baby through the placenta. Still, you cannot undergo any surgery without an anesthetic, so it's best that you tell the dentist if you are feeling pain despite the use of the drug. The dentist may then add some more anesthetic. It's important to relieve any stress on you and your baby, so don't feel guilty about having to be anesthetized.
Remember to tell your dentist that you are pregnant if you are in the early weeks of pregnancy and are not showing. A few steps that were a regular feature of your checkups may now be stopped, such as the use of x-rays. The American College of Radiology states that the amounts of x-rays used to analyze the tooth structure are negligible and therefore not harmful to a developing baby but most dentists prefer to exercise caution, leaving nothing to chance.
The first trimester as you probably know is the trickiest in terms of safety. This is because the vital organs of the baby are developing at that time. If you are in the third semester and come across a potential problem in your teeth, the dentist would usually advise you to wait a bit more for treatment, until the baby is born. Any intense pain or stress can trigger premature labor.
Here are a few more tips for you to remember:
• Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste (recommended by the American Dental Association) and floss on a daily basis.
• Eat a balanced diet consisting of many fruits and vegetables. Snack on apples and carrots when you are craving food; it's better than treating yourself to sweets and sugary drinks, which can harm your teeth.
• Don't miss the regular checkup. Get teeth cleaned if necessary.
• Postpone any non-urgent dental work until you are in your second trimester or after birth. But make sure that you do keep the postponed appointments and not cast dental issues aside once your bundle of joy arrives.
• Engage in moderate exercise as recommended by your gynecologist in order to maintain good blood circulation, an effective method to deter disease causing germs.
• When visiting the dentist, take a pillow or something comfortable for your back until you are taken in. You can take along some music to relax while you wait.
• When in a dentist's chair, don't cross your legs. This action, which may seem harmless to you, actually puts undue pressure on one leg and interrupts healthy circulation.