I had a very large filling done around 18 months ago, at the time the dentist gave me no guarantee as to how long the filling would last and if it would last at all.
I have this morning come up with this lump on the side of my gum (where the same tooth is) and I went to the dentist this afternoon. He's advised me that it's possible the tooth is dead & I may need root canal or an extraction.
It's not sore at all so is not bothering me - I'm just worried it's going to harm bub. He said we can either extract (which I don't really want to do for many reasons but especially seeing as they can't fill the gaping hole until after the baby is born - you can see it when I smile), or, he can fill it with a temporary filling and do root canal after the baby is born. No guarantee that the new temporary filling will hold until after the birth either.
He suggested we could do maximum 1 x-ray but I declined, I had some taken in Jan this year so I will just give him those to go off.
Has anyone had any experience with major dental problems during pregnancy? I don't care what I have to go through I just want to do what is best for bub. Am a little stressed now.
well i think you need to get it fixed. maybe try and go for the temprary filling just to bide you some time. as far as i know having dental xrays isnt that much of a big deal as you wear the lead apron and it is directed so closely to your teeth so one or two wouldnt hurt. last pregnancy i had 2 fillings done. a co-worker of mine got a badly decayed and infected tooth when she was about 2 months out from due date so she had to go on antibiotics and have the tooth immediately fixed up. you should consult your GP and dentist i reckon but it is better to get it fixed or it could become infected.
Don't leave it hun. I'd say it has died, and now has an abcess. The reason it's not hurting is because the infection has somewhere to go, ie. has formed a lump, rather than sitting (painfully)in the bone. I would say that it's pretty definite you will need RCT or the tooth extracted. The reason he's suggested an xray now is see if there's infection present (der) and where it is.
I would suggest going for the temporary filling over the extraction. They can use materials that are sedative, which might just stop the tooth from becoming sore. The problem with just doing the filling is that you run the risk of the tooth becoming very painful. But really, the best course of action would be to have the first stage of the RCT done, where they open the tooth, remove the dead nerve, and put a dressing inside the tooth, with a temporary filling over the top. This should then keep you comfortable until your baby is born, and then you can have the rest of it completed.
Oh, and it is safe to have LA during pg, just make sure your dentist knows that you are so they use the right one.
Definitely do something about it. Dental abscesses like all other infections can lead to blood poisoning and serious consequences. The risk of treatment to your bub is very low to nothing if they know you are pregnant and can take precautions.
Good luck!
I had a tooth die on me when i was pregnant with my second child. I was in really terrible pain for a few days den suddenly the pain stopped. I went to see the dentist and realised that the tooth had died.
As i was pregnant, they cldnt do very much.. i didnt have any x rays done. What they did was to remove the decayed parts, cleaned it out and den put in temporray filling. the first filling broke into pieces a while later so i went to get a stronger filling and it lasted me way after i gave birth.
After i gave birth, i went back to the dentist to do the proper root canal and aso has a crown put over the tooth to keep it stable.
WWYD - major dental issue during pregnancy
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