“Can I have dental work done while I’m pregnant?”
Did you know, that doctors in training are informed that if a pregnant woman requires a chest X-Ray, that the radiation dose to the foetus is so insignificant that the risks of misdiagnosis and not assessing the lungs and heart properly far outweigh any risk of the low dosage of the xray!
The foetal radiation dose of a chest radiograph is 0.001 rads. If we compared that to a dental radiograph, the foetal dose is even smaller at 0.0001 rads (that’s 1/10th the exposure!)
Key messages for patients regarding dental treatment and pregnancy:
Ideally women considering pregnancy should try their best to ensure any major dental work is undertaken PRIOR to pregnancy if possible.
This can help prevent women forming misled correlations of any adverse pregnancy events with any pre-birth events or dental work done. In other words, peace of mind for the expecting mother.
All routine and emergency dental treatment is indicated at any time during pregnancy.
Dental imaging should be used when required!
Untreated dental infections can trigger pre-term birth and result in overwhelming maternal infection.
Pregnant women from 28 weeks onward need careful positioning in the dental chair.
Lying back at this stage of pregnancy can be uncomfortable and can sometimes lead to low blood pressure. Placing a small pillow under one side of your back while in the chair can help minimize this.
In the third trimester, avoid using and NSAID (anti-inflammatory) drugs. These can have serious adverse affects on the baby. For dental pain relief, paracetamol is recommended.
Hopefully this helps clear some of the myths and fears associated with pregnancy and dental treatment! At all times, treatment is based on the individual and often requires communication with other healthcare professionals in charge of your welfare. Prevention and planning is always key.