Pregnancy and Dental X-Rays

If you are a pregnant woman and if you have a tooth ache, you might hesitate seeing a dentist if you wonder how safe X-rays are. Moreover, if you are in a situation where you just learned that you are pregnant and you are wondering if you should schedule a routine check-up with your dentist.

These worries are normal for a pregnant woman to have, especially if it’s your first baby and you want to take every precaution not to harm him. If you are suffering from toothache or if you have a dental emergency, your dentist would ideally need a proper X-ray to detect what the problem is.

Dentists and physicians generally do not recommend taking any X-rays during the first trimester of pregnancy. Furthermore, routine X-rays, which are usually taken during a dental check-up, should be postponed until after childbirth.

Emergency X-rays can be safe, if not carried on during the first three months of pregnancy. Your dentist would use a lead blanket to cover your body and protect your uterus from any radiation. Some dentists would also do treatments needing multiple X-rays, such as root canal therapy, but that remains controversial. Put in mind that major treatments can be also started while you are pregnant and continued after you have given birth. Therefore if you are suffering from dental pain, do not ignore it and call your dentist!

Complete article: Are Dental X-Rays Safe for Pregnant Women?
Source: Pregnancy and Dental Care
In French: Grossesse et radiographies dentaires