Posts for tag: general dentist antioch
Question: Is oral/IV sedation safe during pregnancy?
Answer: Typically sedation is not recommended during pregnancy due to the effects of the sedative drugs but also from local anesthetics. It is known that some sedatives can potentially be "teratogenic" which refers their negative effects on the fetus. Any medications that can possibly pass over the placenta can cause potential problems with normal development and nutrition. It is because of this that sedation as well as most dental treatment is typically deferred to the 2nd trimester.
It is not recommended during the 1st trimester because of early fetal development and also contraindicated late in the 3rd trimester due to the stress of the drugs/treatment than can promote premature labor. The 2nd trimester is typically the safest of the 3 trimesters but I prefer to defer all treatment until after pregnancy.
The exceptions to this is cleanings, exams and emergency treatment that would be more harmful if actually deferred. Talk to your dentist about what treatment is safe and achievable during pregnancy. If the dentist in unsure, he may consult your OB/GYN for treatment recommendations. Re: sedation, nitrous oxide is the only form of sedation/analgesia I would be comfortable administering during pregnancy.
Dr.Glasmeier
Question: I have a tooth that has sensitivity to cold drinks and sometimes sweets but I don't think I have a cavity or ever had the tooth filled? What could cause this?
Answer: Great question! 4 out 5 patients have sensitivity somewhere in there mouth without really knowing what could cause it. Excluding the obvious reasons for sensitivity like cavities, infections and broken teeth, the one that I see most frequently is a phenomenon called "toothbrush abrasion". It is the result of brushing the tooth too hard where the tooth meets the gumline. Overaggressive toothbrushing around this area can cause the gum to pull away from the tooth (i.e. "recede"). When this occurs the underlying root surface is exposed promoting brief, but sharp sensitivies to cold, sweet. If this is the case, typically the patient will get a procedure called "laser desensitization" where the root surface is lasered to eliminate the sensitivity. Patients report tremendous success with this and often times get multiple teeth lasered to eliminate the sensitivity. While there are other methods to treat the sensitivity, the laser treatment is the most conservative and definitely the most inexpensive.
