I DON'T KNOW IF I'M PREGNANT, IS IT OK TO HAVE my teeth extracted?

Is it okay to have a tooth extracted during pregnancy? Does it affect the health of mother and baby? Let's learn about this topic together!

Hello doctor, I'm 20 years old. On February 22, because my period was late, I used a test strip and discovered I was pregnant. Because she didn't know she was pregnant, she had a tooth extracted on February 17. The doctor used anesthesia during the tooth treatment process and prescribed some antibiotics and painkillers. Currently, I am very worried that taking painkillers and anesthesia will affect the fetus. So I want to ask, "If I'm pregnant, is it okay to have a tooth extracted? Will it have any negative effects on the body of the pregnant mother and the baby?" And what dental problems should you pay attention to during pregnancy? Because my child is in a town far from the center of Dien Bien city, medical care is not yet developed, so I hope to receive a response from the doctor soon.

Hello, Thank you for trusting and sharing your health status with our Lac Viet Dental center. With your question, I realize that you do not have much understanding about dental diseases during pregnancy. Our dentist will answer your questions and give advice for your situation as follows:

Dentist's advice

According to the information you provided above, because you don't know if the fetus has a tooth extracted, the dentist requires a prescription to be able to assess whether your tooth extraction will have any effect on the fetus.

Theoretically, anesthesia has no effect on the baby, so tooth extraction should not be a problem for you. However, you should choose a reputable large obstetric hospital to be examined about the condition of the fetus, monitored and screened for fetal defects at the prescribed time because if the prescription you use contains drugs that are prohibited for pregnant women to use, it will affect the baby's development. The doctor measures blood pressure and does urine tests to determine whether or not preeclampsia is present. Other tests depend on the signs of actual examination and the doctor will prescribe when necessary.

Knowledge about dentistry during pregnancy that you should know:

Why pregnant women often suffer from dental diseases

Due to the formation of the fetus's skeletal system, it leads to a change in the amount of calcium in the mother's body. There is not enough calcium in the mother's blood and the body requires additional calcium. As a result, the teeth become weaker and more susceptible to disease, creating conditions for oral diseases to develop strongly, causing inflammation, dental infections, tooth decay, and severe gum swelling.

On the other hand, during pregnancy, a woman's body will have changes in hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that can easily cause gingivitis and increase the accumulation of calcium and bacteria. This is the main cause of tooth decay in pregnant women.

Dentists advise that pregnant women should have regular check-ups before and during pregnancy, every 3-6 months to promptly intervene when there are signs of dental disease.

How does the mother's oral health affect the fetus?

If a pregnant mother suffers from dental diseases, especially tooth decay, it will affect the development of the fetus. In general, the baby's resistance after birth will be weaker.

Pregnant women have tooth decay leading to pain, loss of appetite leading to nutritional deficiency for the fetus; prone to stress and tension, giving birth to a child will have an ineffective digestive system and a weaker immune system, making him susceptible to various diseases.

In addition, the strong growth of oral bacteria can cause blood infections; Enters the blood through the gums, moving to the uterus. They will trigger the production of a chemical called prostaglandin that fights infection, which can stimulate uterine contractions, easily leading to premature birth. Therefore, taking care of oral health for pregnant mothers is essential.

Bad effects of tooth extraction during pregnancy

Dentists recommend that during pregnancy there should not be any dental intervention, even just fillings or scaling, because it can cause sepsis that affects the fetus. In emergency cases (severe tooth decay, destroyed teeth, intact tooth structure greatly affecting the ability to chew) and requiring tooth extraction or tooth decay treatment, you should go to a dentist for advice and treatment. Taking antibiotics must also follow your doctor's prescription.

If tooth extraction is required, the most favorable time for tooth extraction for pregnant patients is the second 3 months of pregnancy (from the 4th to 6th months). Because during this time the fetus has stabilized, the mother's body gradually adapts and becomes healthier compared to the first 3 months. The first 3 months are extremely important, just a sensitive impact on the body will cause negative effects on the baby's development. The last 3 months of pregnancy is the time when the fetus has fully developed, the larger baby puts pressure on the body, and dental examinations require you to lie in a chair for a long time, affecting the quality of dental examination and treatment. In addition, pain during tooth extraction can lead to premature birth. 

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Above are the dentist's answers for your case. If you have any questions or need an examination, you can contact us soon at the hotline number for a free consultation. Best regards!