Wisdom tooth removal while pregnant

[Peacefulspirit]

Hi,
I’ve got an emergency dentist appointment today as my wisdom tooth (which has given me grief on and off for years) is excruciatingly painful. Swollen, looks infected etc. I’m guessing it needs to come out. Has anyone had this done in pregnancy? I’m currently 14 weeks and don’t want a GA. praying for positive experiences! X

Sorry to disappoint, but my wisdom teeth played up in both pregnancies. Each time I was given minimal support to help, antibiotics sparingly, but mostly topical treatments. I had the wisdom tooth out when my baby was 6 months old. I think they will remove, but usually as a last resort, partly because for wisdom teeth they sometimes need to x-ray first which is more complicated during pregnancy.

I hope you do get more help than I did, but wisdom tooth trouble is common in pregnancy and you have my sympathy.

I had a wisdom tooth out in pregnancy (from memory I was 24 weeks) it was fine and ended 3 weeks of agony. I had a molar out in pregnancy last October - I was 36 weeks pregnant at the time - despite being on blood thinners and aspirin it was all fine. Good luck!!

They'll want the infection as minimal as possible before extraction. So you might need antibiotics first dependent on how bad the infection is.

My dentist wouldnt take mine out in pregnancy i had antibiotics and then it removed once baby was born

Not all episodes of pericoronitis need extraction, so they might not remove it. Most of the time they just need local treatment, but it depends on the cause, what the tooth looks like etc. Theres lots of variables. Extraction can be delayed if necessary, sometimes wisdom teeth can be tricky and need specialist care

Having said that, if it does need to come out its really not a problem. You won't get a GA it will just be a local, you can take dental x rays in pregnancy, there is no risk to the baby.

It totally depends on what the tooth is like. If impacted (basically if the tooth is at a weird angle in the bone and only partially erupted into the mouth) and close to one of the main nerves in that area then yes it may need to be a surgical extraction either under GA or local anaesthetic which I doubt they'll do while you're pregnant.

If it's an easy looking extraction and if there's already some xrays (sounds like there may be if you have had constant problems with this tooth) then they may decide to take it out. However as a PP said they may give you antibiotics for a few days first to get the swelling and infection down before doing the extraction.

By surgical I mean they may need to drill away some of the bone around the tooth, apply stitches after, etc. Can usually be done under local but it's not always easy and so probably better delayed until after pregnancy. Whereas a 'simple' extraction under local is usually fine it's just easing the tooth out of the socket until loose, and whipping it out with forceps.

I had the exact same a couple weeks ago they cleaned it and gave my antibiotics and they are referring me to have it out but she told me they won't do it while I'm pregnant. Xx

I had a wisdom tooth out at about 28 weeks pregnant - it had broken and was agony. Such a relief when they said they would take it out, and was totally painless. I had mine done at the hospital emergency dental unit as my actual dentist was staggeringly unhelpful.

Hope it all goes smoothly for you

Thanks so much everyone. I’m currently quivering in the dentist waiting room. X

How did you get on @Peacefulspirit? Hope you’re OK.

Thanks for asking. I have an impacted wisdom tooth bottom left and apparently have been grinding my teeth in my sleep causing further problems. There’s no sign of pericoronitis (?sp) at the minute, so no infection to treat. They won’t do x-rays or remove it while I’m pregnant, just gave me two different gels: one to numb, one antiseptic to prevent infection.
Thanks for all your replies x