Getting Porcelain Veneers While Pregnant
I am afraid I’ve screwed up big time and need some advice. Three days after completely finishing my porcelain veneers procedure I found out I was pregnant. I looked it up and you are not supposed to have dental work done in the first trimester of pregnancy. Is there anything I can do or is it too late?
Lacey
Dear Lacey,
Take a deep breath. This is going to be okay. Dentists are told not to perform unnecessary dental work in the first trimester of a pregnancy because that is the most sensitive time for the baby and you don’t want to introduce chemicals that can be harmful. Fortunately, for you, the only chemical that should have been used in the porcelain veneers procedure is Lidocaine. This has already been approved for use during pregnancy and is even used in the delivery room. There should be no issues of adverse reactions with your baby.
So you know, you will be better off to schedule any regular dental work during the second trimester, so I’d get that appointment scheduled now. We have already discussed why we avoid the first trimester. We avoid the final trimester for the sake of your comfort, more than any actual safety issues. You’ll be a bit larger because you’ve got a whole baby you are holding on to. This tends to make it less comfortable for you to sit in a dental chair for any length of time.
The exception to avoiding dental work is if you have a dental emergency of some kind. It is important and infections, including dental infections, are treated promptly so you don’t have any lingering bacteria that can be passed to your child. You also want to keep up with your cleanings. Untreated gum disease is linked to low birth weight in babies. So, as much as you are probably exhausted right now and feeling a little nauseated, go ahead and schedule your cleaning.
If you end up dealing with a lot of morning sickness during your first trimester that leads to vomiting, call your dentist and ask about ways you can protect your teeth during those early months.
Congratulations on your new baby!
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Do I REALLY Need to Replace This Dental Bridge?
I have a dental bridge on my lower right to replace a lost tooth. I initially thought about getting a dental implant but my dentist suggested the bridge would be less expensive. Now he is saying the one of the teeth holding the bridge is broken and I need to replace the entire unit. If I have no pain and no symptoms, do I really need to replace this? Is there another option?
Jeremy
Dear Jeremy,
You’ve brought up one of the many benefits of dental implants over a dental bridge. If an adjacent tooth to the replacement is damaged it has no impact on the dental implant. With a bridge, that is not the case. The only reason I can think of that he steered you toward a bridge instead is that he doesn’t have dental implant training and did not want you going somewhere else.
That being said, I am a bit sceptical of your dentist’s diagnosis here. You have no pain. If a tooth was broken, you would be very likely to have some pain, especially when you bite down. Generally, the solution to a broken or fractured tooth that can be saved is a dental crown, so why is this one suddenly damaged when it already has that protection. Plus, replacing the bridge would only be necessary if the tooth had to be extracted, which means you would now need a longer bridge. That is another crown on a healthy tooth, with even more strain on it.
I would not consider this a dental emergency especially since you do not have any symptoms. My recommendation is for you to get a second opinion before following through with this. Don’t tell Dentist B who Dentist A is or what he said. They may know each other and you don’t want Dentist B feeling pressured to not contradict his pal. Instead, just go and say, I am seeking a second opinion on the lower right side of my mouth. If he asks you what the previous diagnosis was or who the dentist was, just explain you don’t want to prejudice his diagnosis in any way and just want a blind second opinion. He or she should not have a problem with that.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
How Long Can I Delay Fixing a Crack in a Tooth Crown?
My second molar has a hairline crack. I got four crowns in 2002, so they are aging. Last month, I felt the crack as my tongue ran alongside the side of my tooth. But now I can see the crack, and I can feel it with my finger. How long can I delay getting it fixed? I am leaving for Pennsylvania in early July to give my sister a break from caregiving for our mom. Is this an emergency? I don’t want to be in another state and need a new dentist for a crown. It would take me away from the reason I am traveling. Thanks. Journee from Pittsburgh, PA
Journee,
Although the hairline crack in your crown is not a dental emergency, it probably will not be too long before the crown breaks.
How Long Can You Delay Fixing a Cracked Dental Crown?
It is usually not a concern if a tooth or dental crown has a craze line or hairline crack. But if you could feel the damage in the past but now see it, your tooth is getting worse.
We recommend asking your dentist to examine your cracked crown and the other crowns to determine the extent of the damage. Depending on the condition of your crowns, your dentist may recommend replacing all of them because they are old. Also, talk to your dentist about your travel plans. If you may be at risk of the crown breaking while in Pennsylvania, it is better to find out now so you can replace the crown before traveling. Dentists who use CAD/CAM technology can make a new crown for you in one visit.
Ensure your dentist has the cosmetic dentistry training to color match your crowns with your natural teeth and ensure your bite is well balanced.
Dr. Thomas J. Goebel, a Moline, Illinois, cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.