Keeping your teeth healthy is important at all stages of life, but especially during pregnancy. Without regular dental care, you might develop oral health problems that could harm your overall health, which may put your baby at risk! But what if you’re one of the estimated one in five Americans who struggles to get dental work done due to anxiety? Is it safe to calm your nerves with dental sedation while you’re pregnant? Here’s what you need to know about visiting a sedation dentist in McMinnville during pregnancy!
Can Sedation Dentistry Be Risky When You’re Pregnant?
In some cases, yes. It’s possible for the drugs used in dental sedatives to pass through the placenta and reach the fetus. The risks involved in this are low, but there’s still a small chance that undergoing dental sedation during the first trimester may lead to problems with the baby’s development.
To minimize the risk of harm befalling your little one, most dental professionals recommend waiting until after giving birth to undergo any non-urgent treatments where sedation would be used, such as veneers. However, some oral health problems, such as gum disease, need to be treated as soon as possible. If you can only complete these treatments with the help of sedation, it’s best to choose the lowest possible type of sedation to meet your needs.
Types of Sedation Dentistry for Pregnant Patients
There are several forms of dental sedation available, but these are the two options generally considered the safest for pregnant patients:
- Nitrous oxide sedation – Commonly known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is the mildest type of sedation. Administered through a nasal mask, this sedative makes you feel light and euphoric quickly. Its effects wear off just as quickly, allowing you to continue your normal day after your appointment.
- Oral conscious sedation – This form of sedation is stronger and better suited for patients with severe dental anxiety. You’ll be prescribed a potent pill to take at a certain point before your procedure, which will send you into a deeply relaxed state. You’ll likely feel groggy for the remainder of the day, so you’ll need a ride to and from your dentist’s office.
What About Local Anesthetic?
Regardless of whether you’re being sedated, many dental procedures require your mouth to be numbed with local anesthetic so that you feel no pain. While not technically a form of sedation, you might be wondering whether this is safe during pregnancy. Fortunately, the answer is yes! In 2015, the Journal of the American Dental Association published a study that found that the use of local anesthetics during pregnancy caused zero increase in miscarriages or birth defects. So, avoiding pain during your dental work shouldn’t pose a threat to your baby.
It’s important to maintain a healthy smile while you’re pregnant, but you also want what’s best for your growing baby. As long as you follow your dentist’s recommendations, you should be able to comfortably receive the treatments you need without harming your little one!
About the Author
Dr. Natalya Ramsay obtained her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry and has since completed extensive continuing education courses in multiple areas of dentistry, including sedation. She offers many forms of sedation at Evans Street Dental, including IV sedation, nitrous oxide, and oral conscious sedation, and she’ll only recommend the option that’s safest for you and your baby. To learn more, you can contact her by calling 503-472-1402.