For the last few days, I have been having horrible tooth pain, in a tooth that I had my mercury fillings removed from about a year ago. It was a deep filling and now I fear the tooth needs to be extracted. My dentist indicated that it should come out and suggested a root canal (which I am leary of in general). It is a throbbing pain, that travels along my jaw and actaully into my ear it hurts so bad. It has kept me up a few nights and is soooo sensitive I can barely chew...fun, right?
Aayways, I talked to both my OB and dentist and they all say it is fine to do now, but I am still skeptical. I have read a lot of stuff that says wait until at least the 2nd trimester. But I am wondering, is it worse to have the procedure done or have a decaying tooth (which I have to imagine harbors bacteria) in there? I am only 9 wks pregnant and hate to do anything during pregnancy..especially in the 1st trimester. Just want to make the best decision for my health and the health of the baby.
I know taht it is nerve racking to think about going to the dentist when you are pregnant. However, you are right there is bacteria in there, actually if there wasn't an active infection, then it probably wouldn't be throbbing. The infection will continue to be in your system unless you take antibiotics to kill it, and then it will come back unless you either fix the tooth or take antibiotics everytime it comes back. The anesthetics they use for dental is local (at least that's what I believe) and does no more harm than the infection that is occupying that part of your body. I wouldn't use Nitrous oxide(happy gas) when I get the work done. I would definitely be leary of that. What would bother me is all the xrays that they will have to take if you decide to go with the root canal.
Whether or not you decide to take care of it or not is your decision, but I think that it is more dangerous to leave an active infection in your body when you are pregnant, however that is your decision.
Pros and cons: root canal requires antibiotics, then do the procedure, with xrays during the procedure, and then need a crown and permanent filling under the crown, tooth still susceptible to all the problems of a regular tooth
extraction: requires antibiotics, leaves a space that requires being filled with a bridge (very expensieve and effects both teeth on each side of the hole created) if bridge isn't done, then the opposing tooth (tooth above it if it is a bottom tooth) will continue to grow since it doesnt have anythign to bite against and will cause problems later.
Wait and do nothing: take antibiotics to kill the infection and get it done when you are no longer pregnant... you will probably need to be on antibiotics off and on the entire pregnancy
Sorry this is so long, I spent 13 yrs working in a dental office and I may be wrong on some of these points, but these are your basic choices, good luck, and make the decision that you feel is best for you and your baby since you are the one who has to live with the decision and it's effects or lack there off on your life.
I would not have the tooth extracted. When you remove a tooth, it causes lots of problems for the rest of the teeth in your mouth. The will start to grow toward the gap to fill it in. And the tooth above it (if it is a lower tooth that is extracted) will actually move down to also try to fill the gap.
I would have the root canal and crown it. I have had 2 of these in the last 2 years. If you wait, the decay could spread to other teeth, then you will have to have the procedure done on more than just that one.
Yikes! I just went through the same thing--except NOT pregnant. Had a deep filling that was filled...but started killing me...kept me up at night.....pain going into ears & head...NOT fun. It was non-stop. I ended up going back to the dentist and actually did have a root canal (which I was tremendously frightened about!). Let me just say, it was the best thing that could have ever happened to that tooth! As soon as it was done (and it was a 2-part, lengthy procedure)...I felt fantastic. Still do. I had NO pain during the procedure...except for a sore jaw from holding my mouth open so very long.
So, I guess I'm saying don't fear the root canal. It sounds way worse than it actually is. Not sure about the first trimester situation--I'd ask your OB & proceed with what he/she says. Good luck!!
I think I would just get it over with. Are you worried about the pain meds they use or the actual procedure? I would think it is better to fix it now rather than risk conseuences (bacteria, pain, no appetite) later.
Hello Melissa, Have the tooth pulled, your OB/GYN already cleared the procedure. If the abscess gets into the blood stream, that would not be good for the baby or you and very strong antibiotics would be needed. There are medicines that do not cross over into the plasenta.
I had the same problem before I got pregnant. Long story short I ended up have the tooth pulled because the tooth cracked up into the root. Anyway, I hate drugs so I asked the oral surgeon to not put me out and he said no problem. They gave me a shot just like when they do fillings (I assume that it's stronger though) and the whole procedure was done in 5 minutes. It's just kinda weird to hear whats going on and to be awake while they yank on the tooth with their tools. Instant relief though. See the oral surgeon and dentist and do what needs to be done.
I had three wisdom teeth pulled during my first trimester and had no problems at all. I would strongly suggest you do it now. By the way the pain sounds it's probably already absessed. It will cause your baby more harm to wait rather than to go ahead and do it now. You don't want it getting into your blood stream and transferring to the baby. Root canals aren't all that bad either. It all depends on your dentist. I've had 6 root canals and 8 crowns all with no pain whatsoever from the proceedures or after. I didn't need pain meds and the dentist only gave me novacain. You'll be happy it's done once it's over with and you don't have pain anymore.
I just saw an endodontist for the same thing. He said they can do a pulpectomy? which will give some relief for a while until you are ready to have the roots done as well. This procedure just takes the pulp off the top part of the tooth and they fill it and put a temporary crown in. He told me it would last a few months, but ultimately a root canal would be needed. If you can keep the tooth, that is best, but do what is necessary - you don't want to be hurting like that indefinitely! Good luck with your decision!
I was in the middle of getting all mercury removed and then found out I was pregnant.
I had an old root canal that was going to be removed next.
(they can give illness too) BUT the doctor said it looked good and it would be good wait till after baby was born
.
About 3 weeks later I was throwing up every few hours every day for about 3 weeks...it caused me to be so weak that I would get out of bed to go to the bathroom and I was so weak I would have to crawl back to bed.
My heart would pound. All doctors told me I was just sick from the pregnancy.
I knew it was something more than that & prayed God would show me what it was.
4 days later I was chewing while trying to eat and a tooth fell out.
It was my gold crown. It was all black under it and so was to hole where it came off of.
I had old metal and infection galore that NEVER showed up on an x-ray.
At this point the infection can be very dangerous and so I went in and got the tooth root hole cleaned out and they had to scrape away bone because it was badly infected too.
I was getting well and energy was coming back into my body even on the way home from that dentist.
You are correct in thinking about the bacteria that is in there and the need to do something now.
My fourth baby was the healthiest and is 11 now.
She has only been to a doctor for sickness once in her entire life.
I hope this encourages you to go ahead and get the help you need, Jane
I would be glad to talk if you need more advice on it 517-641-7268
I ended up having to have one of my upper molars extracted because it developed an abscess. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was around four or five weeks pregnant with my first child. The dentist who extracted my tooth used local anesthetic to numb me before extracting it. I guess they didn't go a good job because I developed an infection in the hole that was left that ended up spreading into my nasal cavity. It was bright green pus that smelled awful, like rotting meat...Ugh. It came out when I blew my nose and you could smell it if I talked or breathed heavily. I had the worst pain and headaches because of it. I ended up having to go to another dentist to get treated for that because the first dentist didn't think my situation was urgent enough to clear his schedule to see me. Anyway, I was given antibiotics to kill the infection, which I took for 10 days, if I remember correctly. About a month later I found out I was pregnant, and my son turned out fine. A big, healthy baby, no complications.
I'd suggest getting rid of the tooth. You don't need to deal with a looming infection and pain for the next seven months while your body is already being taxed from supporting a developing life. Best of luck to you!
use sensidine or baking soda toothpaste or something for sensitive teeth. I had the same thing the only thing you can do is use sensitive toothpaste good luck
I would take care of the tooth as recommended because teeth infections can be very serious if allowed to worsen. We have had several pts at the hospital I work at that have had teeth infections that worsened and led to brain involvement. Not the norm but possible.
Have the root canal done. It is not much diffrent than having a filling...it just takes longer. I had one a couple of months ago and the pain in my tooth, which I equated with labor, was gone before I left the office. The last thing you want is an infection.
I had that same type of tooth pain, I wasn't pregnant but it was were a filling had been put in when I was young and then cracked. I had the shooting pain, it ended up being an absessed (??sp) tooth. Medication was needed to get rid of the infection before the root canal could be done. If you let this linger, it may be more harm to you and the unborn child. If it turns out to be an absessed tooth, it can rupture and the infection is then in the blood stream. A root canal is nothing, no pain at all, it was a huge relief when it was done for me. I don't want to alarm you but this sounds exactly how I felt.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and encouragement. I fifured it was probably better to do it, but just am so nervous. The pain is so much better, but obviously something is going on. I know I can’t have anything but a locla numbing with no epi and I am going to see if they have to do an x-ray. Thanks again!