Feeling worried - Dental work 3rd trimester? Safe?

[Orangeroses243]

I've noticed my tooth has slight decay so will be calling dentist tomorrow. I am now sat here worrying as I will kore than likely need a filling and anesthetic.
Ive read online this can increase risk of still birth!!!?? Shouldn't just Google I know but I have. Has anyone had dental work like above in 3rd trimester or know about it being unsafe or? Thanks.

I had to have a tooth removed around 29 weeks, during covid, with local anaesthetic.
Everything was absolutely fine - pregnancy plays havoc with your teeth and gums which is why you get free dental care while pregnant and for a year afterwards

Yep, I have. They take care not to recline you too flat and are careful with with air extraction of they are drilling into amalgam fillings.
If in doubt then wait untill you've given birth, but then you have the issue of what to do with a baby while you're at the dentist.

Local anaesthetics are exactly that, local. They numb the area they are injected into and often contain a second ingredient to casue the capillaries in the gums to constrict which also helps keep the effect local.

The amount of LA inhected is small and the rate that the LA enters the bloodstream is slow and wet it does reach the blood it is quickly metabolised (broken down) by the liver so the amount that reaches the baby would be negligible. Dental LA is generally considered safe in pregnancy.

Is it possible the info you found online related to general anaesthetics? Because those do affect the whole body and they are higher risk (and would only be used when absolutely necessary during pregnancy).

I don't think so - I had two wisdom teeth taken out 3 weeks before my last baby was born.

I'm a dentist- there are no contraindications to having dental work with local anaesthetic during pregnancy, the only thing not done is amalgam fillings. If you feel uncomfortable/ stressed about it though then it should not be a huge issue to leave having the filling done until after you've had the baby and just be very thorough with oral hygiene etc for next few months.

Actually safer to have the work done than to not. You're much more prone to serious infection in pregnancy because you're in a naturally immunocompromised state, and untreated dental issues can cause nasty and dangerous infections. Maternity care providers encourage you to get dental issues seen to without delay.
If it makes you feel any better, local anaesthetic is used every single time an epidural is given so many millions of women are given local in pregnancy. Hope your tooth is sorted soon and not causing any pain, best of luck😊

Thank you all for your responses! Reading this has bought comfort. I shall be calling my dentist today x