34 weeks pregnant with infected tooth, antibiotics or extraction?? FREAKING OUT!

[jessrice87]

34 weeks pregnant with infected tooth, antibiotics or extraction?? FREAKING OUT!

I'm 29 years old and have avoided the dentist successfully for about 10 years. About a year and a half ago my teeth got so bad that I finally got up the courage to go to a dentist who specialized in sedation dentistry. I got all of my upper teeth fixed, all while asleep. However, I was supposed to get 3 of my bottom teeth pulled in January 2016 which was only a few months after having all of my other dental work done that I put it off since they weren't bothering me. I'm 34 weeks pregnant now and it just so happens that one of those teeth I should've gotten pulled is now infected. The dentist I go to suggested that I get the tooth extracted instead of taking an antibiotic, however, that is a lot easier said than done, especially with the fears that I have of dental work let alone having a tooth extracted while being awake!! My OBGYN prescribed me KEFLEX today as I am allergic to penicillin and supposedly it's a lot safer to take during pregnancy than a lot of other antibiotics. My question is, will the Keflex do it's job and keep the infection at bay for another 6 weeks or so until I have the baby so I can actually be put to sleep and have all 3 of these teeth pulled at once instead of having one pulled while I'm awake now and still having to go back and have the other 2 pulled at a later date while asleep? I really want to find any possible way to hold off on having to have this tooth pulled while pregnant and be awake. PLEASE HELP!! THE STRESS IS KILLING ME!

 

[sammyjayneex]

It's difficult when your pregnant because your options are limited, I understand because I've been pregnant and there's only so much you can do. The antibiotics will keep on top of the infection for now, I've had a tooth in my mouth for quite a while after taking antibiotics even though it's not advisable, i was still fine. What is it that scares you about extractions? I know it's the noise for me and maybe next time I could take some ear phones. Is there anything you could do to limit your fear?

 

[jessrice87]

Re: 34 weeks pregnant with infected tooth, antibiotics or extraction?? FREAKING OUT!

Thank you for the response! That definitely makes me feel better. It's the yanking on my head and the pressure that probably scares me more than anything. I've had one tooth pulled that I was awake for and all I can remember is how much he pulled and I did feel a little at the beginning and they had to give me more novacaine but it was mainly the pressure. I think the fact that it's a broken tooth worries me as well because how will it not break even more when they grab it to pull it out? I really want to wait the 6 weeks if i can. Im literally due in less so I'm really hoping this keflex works because the pain is almost pushing me to the point to just go get it pulled now. Im so torn!

 

[LittleLynnie]

Re: 34 weeks pregnant with infected tooth, antibiotics or extraction?? FREAKING OUT!

I just went 13 years. I had an infected tooth that they said had to be removed because it was cracked, but I didn't dare do that because of my history of trigeminal neuralgia in the area. I was put on antibiotics to take care of the infection, but they told me that it could become infected again at any time. I said that I would consider it again if/when that happened. And as I said above, it had been 13 years since the infection and it never came back. I just had all of my upper teeth removed yesterday, so finally lost that tooth, even though it never became infected again.

Your tooth could become infected again the day after the antibiotics wear off though, or you could go on forever without it happening. There's absolutely no way to predict what will happen. If you wait (which I think that I would have done when I was pregnant), you could always have it done if/when it does become infected again.

 

[Ldr]

Re: 34 weeks pregnant with infected tooth, antibiotics or extraction?? FREAKING OUT!

One tooth pulled with good Novocain will be a piece of cake for you. Then you won't have to worry the rest of your pregnancy. Good luck ?

 

[brit]

Re: 34 weeks pregnant with infected tooth, antibiotics or extraction?? FREAKING OUT!

Are you sure the teeth can't be saved with root canal treatments (maybe by a specialist not your usual dentist who has already condemned them)...after you've delivered the baby. Failing that get it extracted now with local anaesthetic so you can relax through rest of pregnancy.
Best to save your teeth if you can though as once they are gone, they are gone.