Toothache & pregnant?!?

Question

When is it a cause for concern? I have a toothache for about two days now, and it has woken me up at night. I can't even exactly tell what tooth it is, either. My dentist couldn't get me in until next Friday, the 29th. That's the only dentist within a 50 mile radius that accepts my insurance so I have to go to him. Will I be alright until then? I have had the same toothache months ago, went away after a few hours, but now it's back. Is it ok that I wait until my appointment? The dentist didn't seem too concerned, and my doctor told me to just use Anbesol. If it were an abscess tooth, how would I know?

Answer 1

Make sure you check with your OB/GYN to see what pain meds are very safe for you.......Ibuprofen or Tylenol or what.....so that you can get some help with the pain until you see the dentist.    If Ambesol helps,  go ahead and use it.  

There are some dental procedures that are perfectly safe during pregnancy,   and one of them is Novacaine.    You certainly cannot have any dentistry done without numbing,  and Novacaine is safe while you are pregnant.   You would NOT however,  want to use the laughing gas or sedation at all.

Abcessed teeth can have a variety of symptoms,  but usually are sensitive to hot foods or chewing,  may have a lump on the gum near the tooth,  and can start to throb on it's own.     A cavity can also feel that way,  and also include sensitivity to cold things.  

If you do have an abcess,   you may get some safe type of antibiotics to help clear up the infection.    If you are not 100  % sure your dentist is recommending safe alternatives,  don't be afraid to call your OB/GYN to verify any medication or procedures your dentist recommends.  

A temporary filling may be something your dentist recommends,  since a cavity is taken out,  and then a filling with medicine in it is placed in the tooth to calm it down for a few days or a few months.   If you don't want  a permanent filling done until after the baby is born that can be arranged.

If you start to lose sleep,  or can't eat,  or are in pain that your OB/GYN's pain recommendations don't help with,  call the dentist back and tell them it has become an emergency so they see you quicker.  

Answer 2

they may give you a temporary filling, but they will not fill the cavity if you have one because of the baby the would have to give you Novocaine to numb you up the dr had explained it to me that it can travel to the baby an once he said that i was like i am all set it will take the temp fill the was no way i was getting a cavity fill with any pain killers, it happen to me when i was pregnant they would just clean my teeth, will not do any dental work