X-Rays, Dental Care, and Pregnancy: Is It Safe for the Baby?

As a family dental practice in Sharonville and Cincinnati, we often hear expectant mothers ask whether X-rays and dental care are safe during pregnancy. You may also wonder which dental procedures are safe and which you should avoid or postpone.

We’ll discuss which dental work is safe, including X-rays, and when it’s best to visit the dentist during your pregnancy. We’ll also talk about medications used during some dental procedures.

What Dental Work Should Be Done and When

If you have a six-month exam or dental cleaning scheduled while you’re pregnant, there’s usually no need to postpone it. Routine preventive dental care is safe and highly recommended. Most Cincinnati dentists encourage professional cleanings because pregnancy-related hormonal changes can cause the gums to swell, bleed, and trap food, which can irritate them. Dental work can also help prevent infection and gum disease, which have been linked to preterm birth.

Are you pregnant and have a cavity? You can get that fixed, too. It’s essential to treat cavities with fillings or crowns to reduce the risk of infection.

We recommend postponing elective procedures, such as teeth whitening or other cosmetic dentistry, until after you deliver. Although the risks associated with these elective treatments are minimal, you don’t want to take the chance of exposing your developing baby.

What About X-Rays?

In most circumstances, you can get an X-ray while pregnant. Both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) consider X-rays to be safe during pregnancy with appropriate shielding.

As a precaution, we can usually postpone routine X-rays if you prefer. However, X-ray imaging is necessary for certain dental procedures, especially for dental emergencies.

Best Time for Dental Work During Pregnancy

Some pregnant people choose to avoid the dentist during the first trimester, when morning sickness typically occurs. The second trimester is ideal for most dental work because the nausea has likely worn off by then. You should consider the third trimester off limits because of the discomfort of spending too much time on your back as well as the risk of going into labor.

A Word About Medications

Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to undergo procedures like a cavity filling without numbing. The ADA asserts that local anesthetics like lidocaine are completely safe for most pregnant people.

If you’re still worried about these drugs affecting your unborn baby, you can ask your dentist to give you just enough to make you comfortable. But there’s no need to be a hero when it comes to pain control. The more comfortable and less stressed you are, the more effective the local anesthetic will be. Your baby will be less stressed, too.

Another consideration is taking antibiotics after a dental procedure. Dentists often prescribe them to treat or prevent infection. Medications such as penicillin or amoxicillin are generally safe during pregnancy.

Talk to Your Sharonville Family Dentist

If you’re expecting, the team at Beckham Square Family Dental congratulates you! You should always let your dentist know if you are pregnant or think you might be. We can recommend the safest procedures and limit medications that could affect the baby. If it’s time for your next checkup and you’re before your third trimester, we can fit you in if you contact us through our online form.