Medication for root canal treatment during pregnancy
Not all medications can be used during pregnancy as they may have effects on the child. However, lidocaine and prilocaine preparations can be used as anesthetic drugs. Articaine and bupivacin can be used, also together with adrenaline.
The concentration of adrenaline should be kept low. Noradrenaline cannot be used during pregnancy. Mepivacaine and prilocaine should also not be used.
As a rule, articaine preparations are used in German medical practices. Should antibiotic therapy be necessary, ampicillins, penicillins, macrolides and cephalosporins are used, but not tetracyclines. If a pregnant woman is allergic to penicillins, macrolides are used.
Therapy with antibiotics should be well-considered and should only be used if really necessary. It is best to discuss every intake of medication with the dentist or gynecologist to avoid all risks. The active substances used during root canal treatment, for cleaning the canals, are chosen so that they are not toxic for the body.
Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite are added to the canal during this treatment step. The agent Leather Mix, which is frequently used in emergency medicine, which contains demeclocycline and triamcinolone and is used for immediate pain relief, must not be used during pregnancy. Since pain can also occur after root canal treatment, the question of painkillers is great.As a rule, ibuprofen is recommended, as it has the advantage over paracetamol not only in relieving pain but also in reducing inflammation.
During pregnancy, however, paracetamol is the drug of choice. In appropriate dosages it can be used without any problems, but not excessively, as it can also cross the placental barrier. If the dosage is too high or taken continuously, liver damage to the baby may occur.
The effects of medication on the baby’s own organism should also not be underestimated. Aspirin should be avoided and ibuprofen is contraindicated from the 30th week of pregnancy onwards, as it can have a contraction-inhibiting effect. Mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine can be used, as the care of the teeth and the oral cavity, especially during pregnancy, is very important to avoid unnecessary interventions during this period.
