Dentist

[Janoschi]

Hello!

Can you put my mind at rest? The dentist has booked me in for 2 fillings in a week's time. They know I'm pregnant (hard to hide at 36 weeks!). I've since heard from people that I shouldn't have fillings done til after the birth... is this true? I was told by the midwife early on that it was important to keep teeth healthy and go to the dentist because inflamed gums can really mess things up with the baby... so confused!

Yes gum disease can be dangerous because of the risk of endocarditis (inflamation of the outer edges of the heart in laymans terms). You will probably be fine but call the dentists and just remind them how pregnant you are. The biggest problem I had was standing up after treatment without falling over (do it slowly). :)

As far as I know treatment at the Dentist is okay if you are happy, it is the lying back for long periods and dizziness that might be an issue, but you can just raise your hand and they should lift your chair up so you can have a break.

I suffered really bad with bleeding gums with my first anad had regular checkups and cleans but didn't have problems with last one or this one either.

If you would feel more at ease and they aren't giving you and pain then you could postpone till after the birth.

My dentist told me it was fine to have a filling. He also told me that, although he didn't routinely do x-rays on pregnant women, it was actually a bit daft because it was a fraction of the radiation you get from a short haul air flight, and there's no blanket ban on them. I think it's one of those things that 'sounds right' so people spread it around - oooh, don't get a filling.

As others have said, be careful not to get dizzy though

Thanks guys! Much appreciated. I do need the fillings as I've put it all off since Christmas and it's definitely getting painful. Will do my best not to fall off the chair - good tip there!

Maybe the filling fear was more in the days of mercury fillings....?

One thing I will pass on about fillings during pregnancy as I have had 2 recently is the type of filling. I was given 2 glass inomer fillings which are white, which is great but I read after that they are only temporary, as in a few years, normally aimed at milk teeth.

I will be visiting my dentist after my baby is born (currently 40+3) and asking for them to be replaced with permanent fillings.

Its just worth checking what type, you only get free dental care for 1 year after birth, after that you will need to pay when they fall out.

As in the fillings falling out, not your teeth!

Thanks for clarifying there, Natzer! And cheers for the info. I'll check with the dentist.

Well, my dentist said he would just do a temporary filling and I should go back after the baby is born to have it replaced with a permament one, but he didn't say why he wasn't just doing the permament one there and then. I didn't complain or question at the time as I was traumatised enough by the temporary ones and he said I would have to have injections etc for the permament ones. At least it will be free rather than paying a fortune for it.

I thought it was the mercury in fillings that was meant to be a problem? I got told by the dentist I saw a few weeks ago that I could only have temporary fillings.

I wonder if your dentist is planning on putting in non-metalic fillings? I'd be interested to know, as I've got a hole in my front tooth and the thought of it deteriorating and me having to walk around with half a tooth missing for 5 months because I can't have proper treatment is not appealing!

I'll find out for you Jammyscone. Must admit it's all very confusing!

[buconfused]

Glad you asked this as I've got to try and get an emergency appt tomorrow as one of my molars has cracked or chipped or something equally as painful and I'm going to have to get it seen to. Will def need a filling so will make sure to ask what kind they are putting in!