Introduction
During pregnancy, ligaments and tissues of the body are loosened – including the gums. So it is not uncommon for bacteria to have an easier time causing tooth root inflammation at this time. Of course, during pregnancy one is concerned above all about the welfare of the unborn child.
What does it mean when it says: your tooth root is inflamed? An inflammation of the tooth root is a disease that is characterized by strong inflammatory processes in the area of the tooth root and the tip of the tooth root. Apical periodontitis is the medical term for such inflammation of the tooth root.
In general, the inflammatory processes are provoked by a strong caries attack of the tooth and spread of the responsible bacteria. The carious defect spreads from the outside through the enamel to the inside of the dentine and thus makes its way into the root cavity. Both the tooth pulp and the nerve fibres contained in it are increasingly irritated and attacked.
As a result, the typical inflammatory processes of an inflammation of the tooth root develop. Although carious defects are the most common cause of root canal inflammation, deep gum pockets that develop in the course of gum inflammation or inflammation of the periodontium, or accidents such as a fall, can also be the cause of such a disease. In summary, it can be said that irregular or inadequate oral hygiene is the main cause for the development of root canal inflammation.
For most patients, the first symptom of such a disease is the appearance of strong, stabbing pain. Furthermore, many patients find both cold and hot drinks or food increasingly unpleasant. Sweet food can also lead to an aggravation of the pain symptoms.
However, not every patient describes the occurrence of pain in the presence of an inflammation of the tooth root. In these cases the disease progresses very far before it can even be detected. In addition, periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontium) is characterized by severe redness of the gums surrounding the tooth.
In addition, the development of swellings in the area of the cheeks (“thick cheek“) is a typical symptom of an existing root canal treatment. These swellings are caused by accumulations of pus in the surrounding tissue and can be immense. During the dental treatment, in most cases a strong pain reaction when tapping the tooth can be noticed (knocking pain).
During pregnancy, the gums are much looser around the tooth. For this reason, bacteria can penetrate more easily between the tooth and the gums and in an emergency provoke an inflammation of the tooth root. It is therefore important to pay special attention to careful oral hygiene, especially during an existing pregnancy.
The teeth must be cleaned properly with a toothbrush at least twice a day. It is also advisable to invest time once a day in the care of the interdental spaces. The bristles of an ordinary toothbrush cannot penetrate the narrow spaces between the teeth.
For this reason, interdental brushes and/or dental floss should be used. In addition, special mouth rinsing solutions can help to reduce the number of bacteria in the oral cavity and thus prevent the development of tooth root inflammation. The application is completely safe for both the mother and the unborn child.
In order to prevent the risk of root canal treatment during pregnancy caused by a deep carious defect, a check-up appointment with the dentist should be made before conception if the desire for a child exists. Teeth affected by caries can thus be treated before pregnancy without any problems. If, however, an inflammation of the tooth root develops during pregnancy, the necessary treatment cannot and should not be postponed until after the birth.
Such an illness must be treated urgently and promptly, because the risks of an inflammation of the tooth root existing over a long period of time are relatively high. And the pain that such a disease brings with it is not something that can be expected of anyone for long.In general, it is considered that the least worries are caused by the implementation of appropriate dental treatment during the second trimester of pregnancy. This is because the pregnancy is particularly stable at this time and the risk of triggering premature stress-related contractions is lowest.
Treatment of root canal inflammation is also carried out during pregnancy under local anesthesia. The treating dentist has access to active substances that are better tolerated by the unborn child than the usual anaesthetics (for example: articaine with adrenaline). The adrenaline content of the preparation is important when choosing the anaesthetic, as it must not be too high during pregnancy.
The necessary x-rays are much more questionable than the anaesthesia of the tooth to be treated and the actual excavation of the tooth root. These should only be taken if absolutely necessary, as X-rays can generally have a damaging effect on the development of the unborn child. For this reason, the treating dentist will usually start the therapy without prior x-rays and prepare the tooth so that the inflammatory processes cannot spread any further and the patient is free of pain. If necessary, the necessary root filling and the closure of the tooth will only be done provisionally. To be able to close the affected tooth permanently, a so-called X-ray control image is actually necessary to check the position of the root filling.
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