Pharmacotherapy during pregnancy: An endodontists' perspective.

Abstract Odontogenic pain affects up to 54.9% of pregnant women ( 1 , 2 , 3 ). This pain is often associated with pulpal and/or periapical infections which pose risks to women and their fetus. The American Dental Association in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists developed a consensus statement to affirm the importance of timely and appropriate oral health care as a critical component of a healthy pregnancy (NMCOHRC, 2012) ( 4 ). However, limited knowledge of endodontic procedure safety and related medication use often results in avoidance of treatment during pregnancy. This paper, a collaborative effort by specialists from Endodontics, Pediatric Dentistry and Obstetrics, reviews the current evidence on the safety of medications commonly used in endodontics including local anesthetics, analgesics, anxiolytics, and antibiotics.