Anyone had dental treatment under GA while heavily pregnant?

[MsBrandybuck]

I am nearly 34 weeks and the plan was to be referred for two extractions under sedation after baby's birth. Am now in a lot of pain and unable to eat properly but too phobic to have anything done immediately (can't be prescribed tranquilizers which is the only way I've got treatment done in the past).

Saw obstetrician and she has suggested I be referred to the dental dept at the hospital I'm due to give birth in. DH has phoned our dentist this morning and they are sending referral letter today.

Just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience and could hopefully reassure me please. Am in tears with pain and fear a lot of the time and don't want to keep taking cocodamol - prescribed by GP for SPD but midwife has advised better not to take if possible.

[Fruitysunshine]

Hi - I had a GA at 6 months for dental treatment. I was fine and so was the baby. Hope you feel better soon.

[MollieO]

I had a GA for an operation when I was 30 weeks (ds arrived at 33 weeks) and was fine.

[mears]

Why can't you have tranquilizers? What ones does dentist use? Pregnant women should get any necessary treatment that they require.

Were you taking regular paracetamol prior to being prescribed paracetamol? Sometimes the effectiveness of paracetamol is under-estimated. When taken regulary - not just when pain is at it's worst, it can be very effective.

If however, regular paracetamol was tried and was ineffective, then you will need to take co-codamol if you need relief. It is either/or, not both medicined together as co-codamol containes paracetamol.

[MsBrandybuck]

Fruitysunshine Thank you. Did you have the GA in the dentist's chair or did you have to go into an operating theatre? I'm not sure which I'm more terrified of tbh. Was put out with gas as a child at the dentist's surgery and also had an op about the same time.

MollieO Thank you too, that's good to know.

Mears My consultant told me I would not be given tranquilizers while pregnant. Had to find a new dentist as we've moved. I managed to sit in the chair and them have a look in my mouth but I was too much of blubbering mess to have anything done.

GP in the past has prescribed Lorazepam to enable me to get to the dentist but I was pregnant with DS (now 3) by the time I got an appt. Managed to get temporary fillings done but I wasn't in any pain at the time. Stupidly didn't go back for the permanent ones and then moved.

When I last had a load of treatment (15 years ago) I was given something like Temazepam, gas & air and injections. Was just for fillings though. This time will include a wisdom tooth extraction.

[mears]

Can't understand consultants view on tranquilizers as a one off for a procedure but you are probably better with a GA for wisom teeth anyway.

Hope you can get it done soon. Should not be a problem.

[bubblesincambridge]

Don't be ridiculous - the pain of getting them out with local anaesthesia (i.e. no pain) is nothing like what pain you are in now.

Have them done under local - it takes 5 minutes, and you'll feel all the better for it, because you won't have the toothache any more. You are doing your baby more harm by taking painkillers and all sorts of other stuff, not to mention a completely unnecessary general anaesthesia or sedation which may put your baby at risk.

Its really not that bad, having dental treatment done. Not as bad as childbirth and not as bad as having toothache. Just get it over and done with.

You shouldn't even contemplate GA or sedation whilst you are pregnant for such a simple procedure which can be done under local. Harsh but true.

[mears]

bubblesincambridge - the OP obviously has a phobia regarding dental treatment therefore will not be able just to go in and get on with it.

Unfortunately that is a reality and therefore a workable solution needs to be found.

[bubblesincambridge]

OP is perfectly able to go and get on with it.

What's worse, toothache or having the tooth out and then having no toothache??

No dentist in their right minds will do such a thing to a pregnant woman under GA. So the alternative will be that OP will end up suffering for another 6-8 weeks.

OP - take a friend with you for moral support and give it a go. Its not that bad, honestly! And you will have no toothache once its done.

[mears]

Dentist won't - hospital will.

[bubblesincambridge]

I doubt it. Its dental treatment which is not an emergency, not a burst appendix which would be an emergency.

[Mouette]

I had an operation under GA when I was 12 weeks pregnant, all was fine. Was told GA was safe, but they use fewer painkillers afterwards if you're pregnant.

[mears]

Hospital provides a dental service. That is where OP has been referred. Think you have scared her off the thread!

[bubblesincambridge]

Mears - I spent 10 years practising as an oral surgeon in hospital dental services so I do know what I'm talking about whereas you clearly do not.

OP may have been referred, but it is extremely unlikely they will do any treatment under GA or sedation until after childbirth.

[mears]

We obviously work in differently set up health services bubblesincambridge!

[MsBrandybuck]

Well, I decided to pop back here after all (ouch - hurts to grin). Thanks for all the replies anyway. I was really only after some reassurance from people who have been through this themselves. Should have learnt by now that on Mumsnet you always get more than you asked for .

Saw my community midwife today and discussed this with her. She also thinks I need to get this sorted asap. So I have my dentist, midwife and my consultant obstetrician (who btw specializes in high risk pregnancies) all saying that this is the best way to handle the situation. But maybe I should tell them that they are all wrong 'cos Bubblesincambridge says so .

[mears]

Let us know what happens in the end. Hope you get sorted soon

[MsBrandybuck]

Update:

I've got an appt at the hospital but it is for over a week after my due date. Bearing in mind DS was born at 38 weeks and I am 43 I'm really hoping not to be still pregnant by then. I asked about referral to the University dental hospital where people normally go from my town and there is apparently a 6 month wait . Anyway have decided I have to do something soon so had a long chat with the lovely dental nurse at my practice. They are extremely concerned that I am too phobic to go through with treatment under a local anaesthetic but said they will do it if I pay a £45 deposit to give me an added incentive to turn up.
I went to my GP surgery last night saw a locum who happens to be a well known local 'personality' in alternative therapies. As I would expect he suggested hypnotherapy as a long term solution so I was quite surprised (I know I shouldn't have been)that he was only too happy to prescribe me diazepam to take beforehand.

So I have this weekend to get my head around the idea that I will be having the treatment probably in the next week or so.

[Fruitysunshine]

bubblesincambridge - it is dentists with your attitude which make people uneasy in the chair. Trust in your dentist is a huge thing and an attitude of "get on with it" from the person who has the power to cause you pain is not conducive to a trusting relationship.

I had a GA at 5 months pregnant due to the work that needed doing. I was perfectly fine and so was my daughter. There is ALWAYS a risk with a GA. Recently however, I took my son out of a dentists chair because the dentist said "If you don't co-operate with me then I may as well leave this room and go and play golf." Fine, go play golf. I have never in my life heard a doctor speak to myself or any family member with such disrespect and perhaps some dentists need to learn a new bedside manner and realise that their patients are only human and do have fears. My son had a very traumatic experience when he was younger with a dentist and never recovered from it. We now have to have sedation just for a simple filling. It may be pathetic or unbelievable to some people but having the memory of him when he was younger more than justifies to me why he needs calming down before treatment begins.

BRANDYBUCK - how did everything go? Are you feeling any better now?

[bubblesincambridge]

Thanks for your observations Fruitysunshine. Its patients like you that are every dentist's nightmare.