Dental x rays when pregnant

[EmsyW]

Hi there
Has anyone had a dental X-ray when they didn’t know they were pregnant or in the first trimester ?
I had one when I was about 10 weeks pregnant - didn’t think anything of it at the time as the dentist did not ask me if I was pregnant.
I’ve now read they should be avoided during pregnancy and I’m worried.
Does anyone know anything more about this? X

When I was pregnant last year I was at the dentist for a check up and he mentioned my x-rays needed updating. When I told him he said he wouldn't do them but added that actually it would be fine, there's no risk really. It's just the current guidelines. So I honestly wouldn't worry but speak to your dentist or midwife if you're stressing still.

I did, told the Dr they were not in the slightest concerned.

Should also have said the baby was perfectly healthy!!

I did, (unplanned pg!) dr/midwife weren't worried. mouth is a fair distance from the uterus, after all!

I had a dental x-ray two days before I found out I was pregnant (so slightly less than 4 weeks pg). DS is 8 months and fine!

I've had a LOT of dental X-rays and asked about radiation risk. They told me that a dental X-ray gives you about as much radiation as a flight to Paris or similar, and it's not a problem at that level.

Obviously you wouldn't want a stronger more focused X-ray when pregnant, but I hope this helps reassure you.

I’m currently running my own dental fear in pregnancy thread but I saw my dentist recently and she said one of my fillings was loose, she said ‘we won’t x-ray as it’s advised not to, although to be honest there’s no proven risk at all, it’s just a precaution’. Hope this sets your mind at rest a bit!!

Thankyou ladies, that is more reassuring. I just dont understand why the dentist didn’t ask me before she did it. I saw a hygienist before that appt and she asked me - I just didn’t think to tell the dentist - I guess I thought of it was a big deal she would have asked. Been worried ever since I read the NHS website! X

I had a dental x-ray taken when I was around 7 or 8 weeks. I told the dentist before hand and she said there wasn't anything to worry about.

Yes I had them around 12 weeks pregnant - they knew I was and said it was fine. Now 37 weeks and all OK.

Yup I had one. Thought I might be pregnant so asked them to use the lead apron.

Risk is tiny, the x rays are focused at the mouth and the dose is v small. Nothing to worry about.

If you need more focused/extensive x rays they can do those as well, they just cover you up with said lead apron thingy.

Cross this one off your worry list :)

@YouCantBeSirius and @lifechangesforever - did the dentist make you wear a lead vest? This is my other concern as I know I didn’t wear one when I had my x ray. If I had I wouldn’t have been worried! X

@Bowlofbabelfish I am just concerned as I didn’t have the lead apron 😞 if I had I wouldnt be as concerned as baby would have been protected - would love to cross it off the worry list though 😊 x

Honestly don’t worry about it - a single dental x Ray is a very small dose. I get more from living in an area with granite bedrock.

I had one at around 28 weeks (they couldn't figure out where pain was from so did on about third visit). They said lead vests aren't seen as necessary now for teeth X-rays.

The lead vests have been phased out for dental x-rays now so I wouldn’t worry about that. I had to have a chest x-ray at 26 weeks in A&E and I was terrified of hurting bump but the Dr said the chance of anything bad coming from it was minimal and if I was his wife he’d be happy for me to have it.
Don’t stress about it, there are plenty of women who have these things done, drink, take medication etc when they don’t know they’re pregnant. This whole journey is full of worries and panics (some days you feel like you’re juggling crystal vases!) but try not to dwell on things that you can’t change.

I didn't wear a lead vest. Currently 34 weeks pregnant and everything seems fine so far. I know it's hard, but try not to worry.

Thankyou guys for putting my mind at ease - sometimes I let my imagination run away with me when I start reading google!
You are all very kind with your advice ❤️💐

I see you've already had plenty of reassurance but thought I'd jump in to offer my own and borrow a bit of extra reassurance! I broke my arm at 16 weeks pregnant and have already had 4 X-rays and am due two more this week (19 weeks).

They put up a board to protect bump (I'm assuming - I was a bit drugged up/in shock) for the first two. I asked about it and the X-ray lady (it's a technical term Mind blank!) said as it was an extremity i.e. arm/leg/head it was totally ok for baby.

I do worry about the amount I've had to have but it can't be helped and I've decided to take her word for it, so based on what she said I reckon you'll be ok

Try not to worry too much, I know it's hard.

I had some dental x-rays during my first pregnancy, must have been about 8 weeks pregnant, but didn't know at that point.

Baby was born perfectly fine.

I spoke with my dentist about it about a year later and he said it was nothing to worry about/perfectly safe.

More recently, was around 7 weeks pregnant with baby no.2 (3rd pregnancy) and was having a dental check up, dentist wanted to do some x-rays.

As soon as I told him I was pregnant, straight away he said that we could leave it for now as they were just routine, not for a specific dental problem.

I was happy to leave it and I guess, from a clinical perspective, a doctor/dentist would rather avoid taking that risk, unless there was an emergency/real need for one e.g. fractured bones etc.

@SpaceRangerSpace aww bless you - I hope you are making s speedy recovery with your arm and I hope your accident wasn’t too serious. 💐

It makes me nervous when drs and dentists don’t do the X-rays but maybe they are just covering themselves.

I’m abit angry with myself as my X-ray wasn’t for anything serious, I had some sensitivity in my crown but I could have lived with it if I knew beforehand the risk )if there is actually a risk)

A lot of people seem to have had X-rays in various forms and yes I guess a lot of people do things before they know. Xx