Oral Surgery While Pregnant, Anyone?

[sweetpeakaris]

I had been TTC for 8 mths. I knew that with my luck, I would find out I was pregnant after the news of me needing Oral Surgery. I went to the Dentist for a normal cleaning, they did an x-ray and I was referred to an Oral Surgeon because I have an impacted wisdom tooth and a large denterigous(sp) cyst. I had no knowledge of the cyst, not in any major pain, just some discomfort at times during chewing and ear pain since the cyst if affecting my nerve. At the size it is now, waiting 9mos to have it removed is out of the question, as it will only get bigger and cause more damage. So, I just got my BFP like 2 days ago. I am about 4 weeks. The Oral Surgeon will be calling me Friday to schedule the surgery, it will be done under deep sedation, whatever that is? I will need the wisdom tooth and cyst removed, also another wisdom tooth on the same side, it will take about 30-60mins, outpatient at least this is what my treatment plan paper says.

I am happy to be pregnant, but terrified since I need to have this procedure. I also don't know whether or not I should tell the Dr I am pregnant, or should I just go through with it and pray the baby is not affected by the anesthesia? Has anyone had Oral Surgery while pregnant? I also don't think I can wait till 2nd trimester either, since I am starting to have some issues with discomfort. If I was only dealing with extractions, I'd be ok, and could do a local, but I think because of the cyst, he wants to knock me out. I really need advice on what to do.

 

[justhat]

You definitely need to tell the dentist that you are pregnant. It will impact the pain meds you can take, and possibly the procedure as well. Also, x-rays are not safe while pregnant, so that's another reason the dentist should know in case he was planning on doing another one.

As far as the surgery though, my cousin just had 2 wisdom teeth removed in her 3rd trimester and the procedure was totally fine, as was her recovery. I believe they only did local anesthetic with her and I know she was only allowed Tylenol afterwards. In her case the wisdom teeth got infected or something like that so it had to be done while she was pregnant too, but it was all okay in the end.

 

[momto3pirates]

I am a dentist, not an oral surgeon. You definately need to tell both the surgeon and your OB. Your OB will have to clear you for surgery. The OB may have restrictions on type of anesthetic the surgeon should use. Remember some medications should not be used during pregnancy. Congratulations on the baby!

 

[luvmy3]

Yes you definitely need to inform the Dentist and the Oral Surgeon that you are pregnant!!!!!!!
I'm pretty sure any dental procedure should be put off until after giving birth, if you can't wait that long, it should be done as late in the pregnancy as you can.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You need to talk to your OB and your Oral Surgeon and come up with a careful plan.

Not telling the doctor you are pregnant is not a good plan.

So sorry about your teeth & congrats on the pregnancy.

 

[dis-happy]

Have your dentist talk to your OB. Between the two of them they should figure out what can be safely used.

A friend of mine was nursing a new baby and ended up in the ER with a broken arm. Anesthesia was a big deal until someone in the ER finally figured out to call the L&D part of the hospital....they were able to tell the surgery people what was okay so she could continue nursing her baby.

BTW, congratulations on your BFP!!!

 

[Scornelius]

Congratualtions!!!!!

Now, why wouldn't you tell the dentist about your pregnancy?

 

[We_love_WDW]

I think it is kind of strange that you would even consider not telling your Dentist you are pregnant??????????? You could end up really hurting the baby-especially during this early growing stage of the pregnancy. Tell your doc and dentist and they will figure out a way to keep you and the baby safe. Believe me you are not the first pregnant woman to have this happen to.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would wait if you are terrified.

I only say this as I have had 3 separate wisdom teeth appts...

My last tooth was an impact and I was pregnant and couldn't have the nitrous that I had enjoyed the first time around b/c of the pregnancy. I would never do that again.


They can take care of our teeth while you are pregnant--however, you will require x-rays AND they cannot give you any of the good stuff (no knocking you out and no laughing gas--at least that was my oral surgeons policy.)

I know your teeth hurt, but do not fail to let them know you are pregnant. It would not be very smart and you could indeed cause a problem for your pregnancy just so that you can be comfortable to have teeth pulled.

My last tooth was pulled very early in my first trimester. I did find it traumatizing as it was an impacted tooth that was very uncooperative.

 

[GJM]

I think it is kind of strange that you would even consider not telling your Dentist you are pregnant???????????

I agree why wouldn't you tell him. That would be the lst. thing I would do, and then I would call my OB and tell him that you may need surgery and see what they say.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well, since I am pregnant and just went to the dentist I will tell you what they did. They needed a letter from my OB - just to check me- and then we went from there. X-Rays are not terrible but they have to double lead you. Meaning 2 lead aprons on you. I have to have a root canal that cannot wait (exposed nerve) and I had an emergency root canal with another pregnancy in the past. (of course both times was because the dentist didn't listen to me at an earlier visit but that is a whole nother thread) The OB knows what kind of meds you can take and what kind of anethesia you can use.
Good luck!

 

[allison443]

I had been TTC for 8 mths. I knew that with my luck, I would find out I was pregnant after the news of me needing Oral Surgery. I went to the Dentist for a normal cleaning, they did an x-ray and I was referred to an Oral Surgeon because I have an impacted wisdom tooth and a large denterigous(sp) cyst. I had no knowledge of the cyst, not in any major pain, just some discomfort at times during chewing and ear pain since the cyst if affecting my nerve. At the size it is now, waiting 9mos to have it removed is out of the question, as it will only get bigger and cause more damage. So, I just got my BFP like 2 days ago. I am about 4 weeks. The Oral Surgeon will be calling me Friday to schedule the surgery, it will be done under deep sedation, whatever that is? I will need the wisdom tooth and cyst removed, also another wisdom tooth on the same side, it will take about 30-60mins, outpatient at least this is what my treatment plan paper says.

I am happy to be pregnant, but terrified since I need to have this procedure. I also don't know whether or not I should tell the Dr I am pregnant, or should I just go through with it and pray the baby is not affected by the anesthesia? Has anyone had Oral Surgery while pregnant? I also don't think I can wait till 2nd trimester either, since I am starting to have some issues with discomfort. If I was only dealing with extractions, I'd be ok, and could do a local, but I think because of the cyst, he wants to knock me out. I really need advice on what to do.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! But, wow, I am shocked that you even have to ask this, much less on a disney message board. Why the heck wouldn't you tell the dentist, as well as calling your obstetrician with these questions???
I mean, you are "terrified" and have valid concerns about an important health issue for you as well as your baby. And your response is to post on here rather than tell your doctors?

 

[MichelleVW]

I got my wisdom teeth out at the beginning of my pregnancy with DD16. I signed the paper saying I wasn't pregnant because I didn't know that I was! Found out about 2 weeks later that I was indeed pregnant and stressed about it for months afterward. Thankfully DD was fine, but I wish I had known and I would have waited.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Thanks everyone for your input. I will tell them when they call me that I just found out I'm prego. The purpose of this thread was not to decide whether or not I should tell them, but rather to see if anyone else has experienced this issue during pregnancy. Out of fear of them putting it off and this thing growing bigger and causing more damage, I was unsure if I should tell them. Also, its not healthy for the baby for me to have the cyst either, it's bacteria. I do know that plenty of pregnant women have undergone surgery while pregnant and their babies were born fine and healthy. On another note, I could have had it done last week, and I wouldn't have even known I was pregnant. I guess I would prefer to have the surgery now vs later in pregnacy.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[justhat]

Well you did actually ask if you should tell the dentist that you are pregnant, so that is what I (and I am sure the others) were replying to as that's pretty major. Many women do have surgeries while pregnant, but typically the dr or dentist is notified in advance so the appropriate precautions can be taken. Plus the dentist and/or OB would know what is safest, either getting the surgery immediately or waiting a bit.


ETA: My husband is home and I just brought this up with him. He's an anesthesiologist and said benzodiapines are Category C or D, so not advisable for pregnant women, and nitrous oxide is teratogenic. So based on that, and only since you said, "I also don't know whether or not I should tell the Dr I am pregnant, or should I just go through with it and pray the baby is not affected by the anesthesia?", my thoughts, as well as his, are that the baby would very likely be affected, or at least there's a great risk and no reason to take that chance. If they know you are pregnant they will avoid those drugs and use alternates that are safe for pregnancy.

 

[Green Tea]

Why in heaven's name would you not tell the surgeon??

 

[mumto3girls]

I did have a root canal done while I was pregnant. The dentist does need to know because he will have to communicate with your OB about appropriate meds. I was just numbed--no sedation--but I think that is routine with the procedure I had. If I recall correctly, he did prescribe an antibiotic to be taken afterwards to guard against infection. I think he said he would not have done that had I not been pregnant, he would have waited to see if there was a problem. He also gave me a prescription for tylenol with codeine and that was okayed by my ob. I did not feel the need to take anything for pain afterwards so I didn't even fill it.

I was 8 months along. The worst part was have to be in that chair reclined backwards for that long at that point in my pregnancy. I experienced a lot of dizziness and was very queasy.

You will be fine. Congratulations on your pregnancy.