Dentist while pregnant

pollyanna24

Do I really get all treatment is free? I have an appointment next Monday. I don't think I'll need anything doing, hopefully not even a filling.

On the point of fillings, if I do have to have one, am I allowed to have an injection to numb the pain?

Toothsmith

Only on the NHS.

If you're lucky enough to have a private dentist, then you'll still have to pay as usual.

onewingedangel

hi there. all treatment should be free, although i'm not sure about crowns and veneers etc. and you won't be able to have any x-rays done.

If you need any fillings, they CAN give you an injection but it will be the non-adrenaline one, as adrenaline can induce labour. Good news is you won't be as numb for hours like the other kind. (just be sure to remind the dentist on the day of your filling)
I used to be a dental nurse-looks like I can still remember my stuff!!!lol
Hope this helps.

Toothsmith

X-rays are actually considered to be OK nowadays.

Dental ones are very low dosage with modern equipment, and probably expose you to as much radiation as a couple of hours in an aeroplane (And who wouldn't fly off on holiday if pregnant?)

All X-rays however should only be taken if necessary and justifiable. So no-one - pregnant or not - should be having them for no reason.

Personally, if a lady is due some routine x-rays, and tells me she is pregnant, I tend to put them off for 6 months. Nasty things sometimes happen in pregnancies anyway, and I would not like it to be suspected that anything I'd done had ever caused anything like that.

If however, a pregnant lady came to me with a problem that needed an x-ray to diagnose - I would not worry about doing one.

You've mis-remembered(?) the bit about anaesthetics too! It's the adrenaline free one that has a similar chemical in it to the one that induces labour.

Adrenaline free ones sometimes have a chemical in them called octapressin, which does the vasoconstriction job of adrenaline, but is quite similar to oxytocin - a hormone that starts uterine contraction.

Having said all that, the risk is still pretty remote, and there are other adrenaline free anaesthetics as well.

If you are an NHS ptient though, then ALL NHS treatment will be free. Including crowns or veneers if they are done on the NHS.

Any private alternatives will still be chargable though.

Psykicpup

One thing I would mention tho... I found that laying back in the chair was very uncomfy & made me feel quite faint, the dentist I had at the time didnt seem to understand so I would have to ask to sit up between things rather than him offer. Dont think I'd have that prob with my now dentist (cheaper than NHS but private -well most things) but I'm not getting preggers to check for ya lol