A review of common dental treatments during pregnancy: implications for patients and dental personnel.
In general, pregnant females tend to over estimate the risk of teratogenicity in the foetus resulting from medical and dental procedures and/or drugs. This may cause them to avoid necessary treatment, leading to detrimental health effects for both the foetus and themselves. In this review, the concerns of pregnant dental patients and personnel will be discussed, including the perceived risks associated with amalgam restorations, radiation, local anesthetics, nitrous oxide gas, antibiotics and analgesics administered in a dental setting. Pregnant dental personnel have special concerns related to their daily occupational exposure to mercury and nitrous oxide. After assessing the potential risks of undergoing dental treatment during pregnancy, it can be stated that necessary treatment should not be with-held. In addition, dental treatments are best performed in the second trimester for the benefit of the foetus, and optimal comfort for the pregnant woman.
Wasylko
L
L
Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London.
Matsui
D
D
Dykxhoorn
S M
SM
Rieder
M J
MJ
Weinberg
S
S
D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003797:Dental Staff; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009609:Nitrous Oxide