Dental work in first trimester

[cgwx]

Hi all,

I have had issues with my first upper molar for a while now, I had an abscess in October 2023 on the outside of the tooth so it was able to be drained etc away. I fell pregnant the end of that month just after. Fast forward to 3 days ago i started getting pain in the same tooth, so got an emergency appt at the dentist and she said theres an infection. She was reluctant to giving me Amoxicillin Antibiotics because I had not long finished some a couple of weeks prior due to a chest infection. She said about going in and drilling the tooth to see whats going on but of course would be “blind” because she can’t X-ray to see. I wasn’t sure about this in my first trimester especially because I have had on and off bleeding throughout this pregnancy and not had a scan to see if everything is ok etc yet. She gave me some time to consider my options, when i went back in she gave me some antibiotics called Metronidazole and said see how these go. I’m still in pain and decided to book back in for Monday morning to see what my options were and whether these antibiotics have worked or not. I think they‘ll recommend Root Canal work but honestly I don’t know whether to just have it out to prevent any more issues with the tooth later on in pregnancy? I have a scan on the same day but in the afternoon. I’m 12 weeks tomorrow. My midwife has said to follow advise that they give in the appt and that she hasn’t heard any advice against having emergency dental treatment done in pregnancy.

Just wanted to know if anyone else has had a similar dental experience, because dental issues suck as it is… but in pregnancy it feels a million times worse.

Thanks x

Oh just to say also theres no abscess thats formed on the outside of my tooth either like last time. All the pain is within the tooth.

Why can’t she do an X-ray? Dental X-rays are absolutely fine and pose no harm to baby, I had to have one during my last pregnancy and a partial extraction. I think the only thing they shouldn’t use is a certain type of anaesthetic but if they know you’re pregnant then they wouldn’t. All other dental treatment is fine, much better to get it done as dental infections can turn quite nasty.

@PickledScrump thankyou for this! I want to have the tooth out i think because i know long term it's just going to keep causing me issues. I just don't know whether to wait until after the reassurance scan we have a EPU or get it done before hand. I also have appointments Wednesday and Thursday for my daughter where i need to be able to speak, so I don't know whether to wait until Thursday afternoon once all appointments have been done. Obviously if i'm still in pain then I will just have it done Monday morning, but if the pains disappearing then it means the infection is going so could have it out whenever really after that. can't decide whats best to do really.

My dentist also advised x-rays were fine so if you’re happy with having one I’d discuss with your dentist their reasoning. Have a google about the risks. My dentist also advised having treatment done in the second trimester rather than first or third, not sure on the evidence for this.

Another one who has had 1st trimester xray.
My dentist said the radiation risk is incredibly low, less than going on a flight.