Having Dental Work Done While Pregnant – Root Canal Complications
According to a poll on Wellsphere’s Dental Health Community, more than 50% of people are sometimes afraid to go to the dentist. This fear can understandably increase when the dental patient-to-be is pregnant. There seems to be a lot to worry about when it comes to going to the dentist while pregnant. Infections, X-rays, and medications are just some of the issues causing expectant moms to worry. This article hopes to provide reassurance and a short guide to getting dental work done while pregnant.
First of all, it is important to remember how important dental health is during pregnancy. Poor dental hygiene can cause many problems during pregnancy, including low birth weight. You should consider making an appointment with your dentist soon after your pregnancy is confirmed. In addition to making sure you have a healthy smile, this will also give you an opportunity to tell your dentist about your impending arrival. Make sure you do tell your dentist that you are pregnant. This will be important information if you have any problems later on.
If you do collect that you are having dental problems, call your dentist and OBGYN and let them know. It is important to keep all your doctors on the same page. Your OBGYN will likely fax a list of acceptable medications and procedures to your dentist, and he or she will take a stare at the plight to see if it is something that can wait till after delivery or something that needs to be taken care of right away. A bacterial infection will need to be taken care of right away, but lesser problems may be able to wait. Your dentist may need to do an x-ray. This seems frightening, but with your OBGYN’s permission this process can be safe. It is important that your stomach is thoroughly shielded (several protective aprons) during this process.
The second trimester is the best time to have dental work done. This is because many of the vital organs have already been formed, but you are not too glum to lie in a dental chair for several hours.
If you do have to have dental work done, it may be possible for the dentist to begin so quickly that you do not need to have antibiotics. If you do need antibiotics, do not despair. Just consult your OBGYN. Many of these medicines are safe, and they are certainly great safer than a abominable bacteria infection.
Many people dismay dental work because it is a painful process. It is usually safe to have local anesthetic while you are pregnant. Your pain can place stress on the baby, and it is not a crime to want to be reasonably comfortable. After your procedure, there are some pain killers that are safe during pregnancy. At the very least, take some Tylenol. (NOT Ibuprofen) If you need something stronger, there are safe medicines available. Just make sure you are taking a safe dose.
I make these suggestions to you because I had an emergency root canal during my second trimester. My dentist was very careful with doing x-rays and prescribed Hydrocodone to me—with my OBGYN’s permission. Take care of yourself, and do not focus on the horror stories. You have to take care of yourself to take care of your baby.
Dr. Helaine Smith, “Angie’s List Poll Says 50% Afraid to Visit the Dentist” Wellsphere
Sawf News, “Poor dental hygiene causes complications in pregnancy and newborn babies” SawfNews.com
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Take Care in Choosing a Dentist – Find A Dentist
I recently moved to a unusual state and had to find a new dentist. When I did, I ended up choosing a dentist who was one of the providers listed on my health insurance. I, like so many of us, assumed the dentist would be competent. Why? Because he was listed with my insurance coverage and they earn sure their providers are board certified and have the necessary skills to do a good job. Did I do additional checking? Again, like so many of us, I didn’t. I guess part of my reasoning was that all dentists are basically good at what they do, moral? I mean, it’s dentistry, not brain surgery. So why waste my necessary time digging into his background?
All I can say at this point is-I’ll never make that mistake again.
On my second visit, I experienced a abominable reaction to the numbing agent. Whether this was preventable, a mistake on the dentist’s part, or just bad luck, I don’t know.
But here’s what bugs me the most.
My dogs had received their yearly injections a couple of days before my dental appointment. The day after their visit, the vet’s office called to peek how they were doing. I was surprised by the call. I mean, who expects their vet to check up on their animals? Needless to say, I was pleased at the vet’s obvious care for her patients.
Did my dentist or his office personnel ever check up on me after my terrible experience? Nope. Not a call. In fact, when I called them the next day to say I’d be changing dentists and why, they weren’t sympathetic or apologetic at all. A couple of days later when I picked up my file and x-rays, the dentist looked me straight in the eye and never said a word about my unpleasant experience. Nada. Nothing.
My question is this…has our society gone to the dogs? Do vets care more about their patients than our dental profession cares about people? Obviously, in my original experiences, the vet did. But I’m holding on to the hope that this was one rare, out-of-the-ordinary occurrence. I’m holding on to my belief that most of the dental profession really care about their patients. (My belief was later confirmed.)
Still, I’m taking no chances in choosing my next dentist.
Although implementing the following steps can’t guarantee that a dentist is competent or that he/she won’t make a mistake, keeping these suggestions in mind can encourage steer a person toward making the right dental choice. (By the way, my new dentist passed each of these steps with flying colors.)
When choosing a new dentist, do the following:
1. Choose a dentist who is a member of ADA (American Dental Association). Members have to meet a specified level of competence and ongoing training.
2. Try getting a friend’s recommendation for a dentist. Their experiences are invaluable tools in determining a dentist’s qualifications.
3. Ask for the dentist’s experience in terms of education and years in practice.
4. Is the dental office clean? Does everyone wear sterile gloves?
5. Are the people in his office friendly and ready to answer questions?
6. Was the dentist friendly and cared enough to speak directly to you?
7. Does the dentist perform other functions during his initial examination? A good dentist doesn’t check only your teeth. He or she should examine the gums, the tongue, the inside of the cheeks, and more.
8. Does the dentist, and not his employees, explain your condition and treatment options available to you?
Following these simple guidelines can save hours of regret and pain. As I said before, everyone makes mistakes, but I know one thing. I won’t be making the same mistake again.
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If I Won the Lottery – Salary Of A Dental Hygienist
Every so often the multi-state lottery in which my state lottery participates reaches a level that catches my eye: $95 Million, $250 Million, et cetera. Of course the jackpot is never expressed as so-and-so-many-million dollars, it’s expressed as $95,000,000 or $250,000,000. The jackpot amount for the March 28, 2008 drawing of Mega Millions is $113 Million (or, put another way, $113,000,000) with the up front cash option at $71.2 Million.
The odds of matching all five numbers PLUS the “Megaball” is 1 in 175,711,536. Most daunting, to say the least. So while I’m studying ways to reduce the odds to be in my favor, I’ve started thinking about the ways my life would change with $71,200,000 in hand or with $12,500,000 a year for twenty years. After all, with odds of winning like 1 in 175,711,536, what you’re really doing when you plunk down $1 or $2 or $100 or even $1000 is leveraging the opportunity cost of buying a ticket against the dream that you’ll beat those odds.
Here are the dreams my $2 in opportunity cost have bought me for a couple of days. My father used to say he would make 2 phone calls: one to a travel agent and one to the set he outmoded to work. Me? I might not even quit my job, but I know what I would want to do.
$367,200: Lamborghini Murciélago
Lamborghini has had a troubled 30 years, surviving bankruptcy, receivership, Chrysler, and Tommy Suharto to come under the ownership of Audi AG. With Lamborghini’s logo of Bull, it is only fitting then that the 2002 replacement for the Lamborghini Diablo was the Murciélago, named for a bull which survived 24-sword strokes during a bull fight and whose life was ultimately spared. The 0-60 urge is 3.8 seconds, with a 9.5 second ramp up to 100 mph and a top urge of 205 mph. This is not an automobile for the rational, as no rational person need finish a top speed of 205 mph. Nor is a $300,000 automobile a requirement; one can procure a more than satisfactorily serviceable automobile for substantially less money.
So why have one’s mind residence on a top of the line Lamborghini? This is an automobile of passion. This is an automobile that is not required to go from point A to point B. This is an automobile that announces that not only does the driver appreciate the absolute finest things in life, he can also afford the absolute finest things in life. With a net worth that has just increased by approximately $100,000,000, this announces to the world I have arrived. It also announces that I have also probably won a lottery, because very few people who have actually earned $100,000,000 would spend their money so recklessly on such an automobile – outside of, say, Kobe Bryant.
Up to $2,500,000: Private Island Estate
Since I’m no longer working, I figure I’ll have plenty of time in which to relax and pursue some new interests; interests such as snorkeling, underwater photography, and perhaps…well, I don’t know, competitive sunbathing or money laundering – not illegal transfers of money to hide illicit activity, I mean washing my money…I’ve got a lot of it now, remember?
Initially, my thought was to recall my possess island, but that wouldn’t fly. In thinking about the cons of an island, there wouldn’t likely be the accoutrements to which I’ve become accustomed, and would require such things as indoor plumbing. Since I ONLY have $100,000,000, I have to be somewhat frugal in order that my winnings aren’t completely drained.
For $2.5 Million, there’s a 1.5 acre villa available on an island in Jamaica. This isn’t a private island in and of itself – there are three other villas on the island – but I’m thinking it would be sufficiently secluded that I wouldn’t notice the other 4 families on the island.
$80,000 yearly: Personal Dental Hygienist
Yeah, that’s right. I’ve got a lot of money. I shouldn’t have to brush my own teeth in the morning. I figure I could hire some spectacular dental professional whose only responsibility would be to clean my teeth in the morning and at night. That’s it. Okay, maybe shampoo my hair too, but I’m certain that would advance at an additional cost.
In the Boston area, $80,000 is in the 75% percentile of Dental Hygienist salaries. I figure that this number is more than superb according to a modern Boston Globe article, a solid butler’s salary would be in this range. That and the relatively light work load involved.
$200,000 yearly: Dennis Drinkwater’s Red Sox Season Tickets
Dennis Drinkwater runs a company in the Boston area called Giant Glass. I’m not entirely obvious why I know that, other than the fact he has the season tickets to the best seats in Fenway Park – right unhurried home plate. I win $113,000,000 and I want at least two of those seats. I figure each ticket is worth about $98,000 or $1,200 a game for 81 games – plus any playoff games. I’m not sure I know what I would have to do to actually pry those tickets out of his hands, and if I did, I wouldn’t write about how much I would be willing to part with – after all, I have a 2 in 175,711,536 of winning the loot – just in case I’m having my Dental Hygienist make some phone calls on my behalf.
The Reality is…
I’m not spending everything and I’m not winding up living in a trailer park. My interests and needs are relatively modest…okay, the $350,000 Lamborghini…yeah, and the $200k for baseball season tickets. Otherwise, I’m not buying up helicopters and sure as shooting my family knows not to ask me for money. I also know that unless I’m pulling into lottery headquarters to grab up a lump sum of $71 Million, all I’ve got is a yearly salary increase. Buy a multimillion dollar home, you’ve got taxes to pay on it. Yikes!
Let’s face it – unless you win the big prize, all you’re really looking at is a yearly salary. Win $1 Million, paid over 20 years, you’ve gotten yourself a $50,000/year salary. This likely isn’t going to change your life enough to buy a Lamborghini. In 2006 the median household income was $48,201.00. If you figure a 3% increase every year of a 42 year working life, that amount works out to be just over $2 Million. If you win $1 Million over 20 years, all you’ve done is increase your lifetime earnings by 50%.
But if we’re talking dreams, with all due respect, I’m not dreaming of $1 Million. I’m dreaming of $113,000,000 over 20 years…or $71,000,000 right now.
RESOURCES:
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Pediatric Dentist of the Unifour Area – Complete Dentist
Walking into a dentist office with smiling faces and children areas helps to take that obvious edge off of the dreaded trip to the dentist. I know, my children don’t worry as much when they’re kept busy and entertained. For this reason, I have created this guide to help you take the stress off of finding a dentist that you need for you and your children.
Wesley Bridges, DDS 504 Mulberry St SW Lenoir, NC 28645 (828) 758-4415
Laser Dentistry, Virtual Smile Makeover, Colored Fillings, Routine Cleanings, Extractions, Crowns & Bridges, Dentures & Partials
New Patients & Emergences Welcome
Monday thru Thursday – by appointment only
Financing Available & Insurance Filed
Dan Knechtel, DDS 341 E. Parker Rd Morganton, NC (828) 433-1223
Invisalign, Nitrous Oxide Sedation, Complete Professional Dental Services – Fillings, Extractions, Crowns & Bridges, Dentures & Partials
New Patients
Monday thru Friday 8am – 5pm
Most Insurances Accepted & Insurance Filed
NC Health Choice, Medicaid ages 17 & under, & Financing on Approved Credit
Dentist with More Than One Location
Dr. Cozart DDS 342 Harper Ave NW Lenoir, NC 28645 (828) 758-8848
1040 2nd ST NE Hickory, NC 28601 (828) 322-5600
812 W Union St Morganton, NC (828) 437-8133
Laser – Non-Surgical Treatment of Periodental Disease, Colored Fillings, Routine Cleanings, Extractions, Crowns & Bridges, Dentures & Partials
Recent Patients
Monday thru Friday by appointment only
VA accepted
Dr. Michael Wimberly 1183 Fairgrove Ch. Rd. SE Hickory, NC 28601 (828) 466-2488
1285 Wilkesboro Blvd. Lenoir, NC 28645 (828) 757-1188
General Dentistry, Routine Cleanings, Extractions
Unique Patients Welcome
Tuesday & Thursday 10am – 7pm @ Hickory Office
Monday & Wednesday 10am – 7pm @ Lenoir Office
NC Health Choice, Medicaid, Private Pay
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How to Become a Dental Hygienist – Dentist Salary
A career in dental hygiene can be a titanic choice for anyone who wants to work in the medical field. They are at the forefront of the fight against dental disease. In many dental offices they are responsible for cleaning and examining the teeth before the dentist takes over.
In many dentist offices, the first professional patients come in contact with is the dental hygienist. Their main function is to assist patients to take care of their teeth and gums so as to avoid teeth decay and gum disease. Dental hygienist teaches proper teeth cleaning and flossing techniques.
Dental Hygienist Career Information
Most dental hygienist undergoes a two-year associate degree program at an accredited institution to get started in the career. Once they have successfully completed the two-year course of study, they need to be licensed to practice in the state they will be working in.
To get their license to practice, the dental hygienist must pass both a written and clinical test. Apart from an associate degree, people can also opt to get a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in dental hygiene or dentistry.
The core courses generally pursued on the path to a career in dental hygiene include anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, dental hygiene, oral pathology and the science of gum diseases. The dental hygiene course can be taken at a dental hygiene school or a university offering dentistry as an option. Even if you do not have the entry level requirements, you can take qualifying courses such as biology and anatomy so as to get into dental hygiene school.
Private or Public Sectors
They can find employment in both private and public sector entities. Dental hygienists can be found working in institutions such as:
Dental offices
Hospital or other health institutions
Schools
Nursing homes
Prisons
Dental hygienists work in both public and private institutions. Apart from working directly with dental patients, some dental hygienists settle to work in a number of other careers, such as:
Instructors in dental hygiene
Researchers in dentistry
Sales representatives selling dentistry and dental hygiene products
Administrators in dental clinics or other medical institutions
In some states, dental hygienist can even set up their acquire practice and as such work independently. Dental hygienists who work independently do refer patients to dentist if they need dental work or surgery. In some cases, dental hygienists even go on to dentistry school to become a dentist.
A career in dental hygiene is especially suited for people who have some of the following skills:
Friendly and easy to talk to
Pays attention to detail
Can provide instructions clearly
Have a certain level of dexterity as they need to work inside small spaces, that is, the mouth
The average annual salary for dental hygienist is approximately $65,000. Some earn much more depending on their qualification and experience. Dental hygienists are paid by the hour while some are in a salaried position. Even more come by their living by working in more than one institution as the career lends itself readily to part time work.
