Root canal treatment during pregnancy

introduction

Root canal treatment may also be necessary during pregnancy and, due to the severe pain caused by the inflammation of the dental pulp and the nerve fibers in it, and the risks of non-treatment, it can often not be postponed until an appointment after the delivery.

In order to reduce the likelihood of suffering from root inflammation during pregnancy, if you wish to have children you should also have the condition of the teeth (dental status) checked in advance every six months.

Before the tooth starts to hurt, control x-rays can often tell if the area around the pulp has become infected.

Find out more about this: Root inflammation in pregnancy

Root canal treatment during breastfeeding

A root canal treatment during breastfeeding is not a problem. It is therefore possible to have this carried out. In general, however, you should inform the treating dentist that you are breastfeeding. The doctor may then administer other local anesthetics (= narcotics) and medication. In the case of pain or swelling after the root canal treatment, just like during pregnancy, paracetamol or ibuprofen are the means of choice to alleviate the symptoms. A root canal treatment does not require a break from breastfeeding or discarding the milk.

X-ray during pregnancy

If the root canal treatment is carried out correctly, x-rays (in this case dental films) are necessary before, during and after the treatment. These dental films are used to precisely determine the root length in order to get the tooth root right up to the tip (apex) to be able to fill.
If the filling is too short, even after the end of the root treatment, inflammation in the area of ​​the root tip can occur, which in the worst case results in a so-called root tip resection or the loss of the tooth.

Read detailed information on: Procedure for a root tip resection

An X-ray before and during a root canal treatment is essential for its detection and success. It is very important that in the event of an X-ray, the dentist and practice team take all possible precautions to protect the mother and the unborn child.

Read more on the topic: X-ray of teeth

The radiation intensity of an X-ray of a tooth is approx. 0.02 mSv (millisievert). As a rule, this has no negative consequences for the unborn child. A plane trip would burden mother and child with about 0.1 mSv five times more. However, if you are planning a pregnancy you should definitely check the health of the teeth with the dentist in order to be able to carry out any necessary treatment before a pregnancy.

Learn more at: X-ray during pregnancy

Of course, x-rays should be avoided during pregnancy and the dentist will refrain from making dental films if a root canal treatment is necessary. However, this means that a completed root canal treatment may not extend to the tip of the root. In order to avoid the risk of an inflammatory process inside the tooth, only one root canal preparation is carried out. This means that the treating dentist will "drill out" the tooth and remove the inflamed pulp together with the nerve fibers in it. If the inflammation is very pronounced, an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory drug is applied to the root over several days.
When choosing this medication, pregnancy must be taken into account, so if possible no “toxic” medication should be chosen. However, the tooth root is not permanently filled, as would be the case with a root canal treatment. The root and the tooth are temporarily closed and the root canal treatment is only completed after pregnancy.

Root canal treatment with the laser

A root canal treatment can also be performed with a dental laser. This is an alternative to the standard variant using manual or electrical devices.

The thin glass fiber of the laser is inserted into the root canal and works where it is directed. A precise effect is possible: microorganisms are killed by targeted heat generation, as they are not heat-stable. The surrounding tissue is spared. In the long term, the prognosis of the tooth can be improved by treatment with a laser.

Read more on the topic: Root canal treatment with laser

Root canal treatment with homeopathy

After a root canal treatment, homeopathic remedies can be used for better healing after the procedure, for drainage and for pain relief. In general, however, homeopathy is only suitable as an accompanying therapy in this context. Mechanical and antibacterial cleaning of the root canal is essential. In most cases, the following globules are used in the follow-up treatment of a root canal treatment: Pyrogenium D12 and Arsenicum album D12.

Root canal pain

A tooth that is about to undergo root canal treatment causes unpleasant pain that is permanently present and can limit everyday life. The bacteria have penetrated the innermost part of the tooth and the inflamed tissue presses on the nerve, causing the pain.

During the treatment to remove the inflamed marrow, the tooth must be numbed as the pain becomes too severe. During pregnancy, however, you do not have to worry about having to endure the treatment without anesthesia, because prilocaine and lidocaine preparations can also be used during pregnancy. So you don't feel any pain during the procedure, apart from some pressure. Possible ambient noises and the noises and forces on the tooth resulting from the treatment turn out to be rather unpleasant in the situation.

After the root canal treatment, which is initially ended during pregnancy without a definitive filling, pain can also occur. In most cases, however, this pain is completely normal and part of the healing process. Only in very few cases is the healing process completely painless and you can count yourself lucky if you belong to them.
The body begins to regenerate and the healing of the wound is associated with pain, which, however, is less intense than with an untreated tooth.

Read more on this topic at: Pain during a root canal treatment

What is the focus on?

The primary focus of a root canal treatment during pregnancy is on stopping the pain. The definitive restoration only takes place after the child is born.

The area around the tooth was stressed by the treatment. The tooth and tissue can also be damaged by irritation, which must be given time to recover. How long the pain will last cannot be precisely determined. It differs from person to person and depends on the initial situation.
If the inflammation is greater, the pain can last for a long time. As a rule, a few days are assumed, but in individual cases it can extend over several weeks. Immediately after the procedure, swelling and especially pain when clenching can occur, so you should first rely on pulpy food.

If the pain does not decrease, however, the dentist should be re-visited, as there is a possibility that bacteria may remain in the canal, which can cause re-inflammation. During pregnancy, changes in the hormonal balance, which can affect the saliva composition, make you more prone to tooth decay. It is best to have the necessary dental work before pregnancy.

Drugs for root canal treatment during pregnancy

Not all drugs can be used during pregnancy because they can affect the child.

Lidocaine and prilocaine preparations can be used as anesthetic medication. Articaine and bupivacin can also be used together with adrenaline. The concentration of adrenaline must be kept low.
However, noradrenaline cannot be used during pregnancy. Mepivacaine and prilocaine should also not be used. As a rule, Articaine preparations are used in German medical practices.

If antibiotic therapy is necessary, ampicillins, penicillins, macrolides and cephalosporins are used, but not tetracyclines. If you are allergic to penicillins as a pregnant woman, macrolides are used. Antibiotic therapy should be carefully considered and only used when it is really necessary. It is best to discuss any medication intake with the dentist or gynecologist in order to avoid all risks.

The active ingredients used during root canal treatment to clean the canals are selected so that they are non-toxic to the body. Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite are added to the canal during this treatment step. The remedy Ledermix, which is often used in emergency medicine, contains demeclocycline and triamcinolone and is used for immediate pain relief, must not be used during pregnancy.

Do I get pain medication?

Since pain can also occur after the root canal treatment, the question of pain medication is great. As a rule, ibuprofen is recommended because it has the advantage over paracetamol that it not only has a pain-relieving effect, but also has an anti-inflammatory effect. However, paracetamol is the drug of choice during pregnancy. In appropriate dosages, it is safe to use, but not excessively, as it can also cross the placental barrier. If the dosage is too high or if it is taken continuously, the baby can suffer liver damage.

The effects of drugs on one's own organism should not be underestimated either. Aspirin should be avoided and ibuprofen is contraindicated from the 30th week of pregnancy, as it can have an anti-labor effect.

Mouth rinses that contain chlorhexidine can be used as the care of the teeth and the oral cavity, especially during pregnancy, is very important to avoid unnecessary interventions during this time.