[The pregnant patient in dental care. Survey results and therapeutic guidelines].

In a telephone survey using a standardized questionnaire, 78 resident dentists in Germany, Switzerland and Austria were interviewed with respect to several aspects of the dental treatment of pregnant women. Only 58% of the interviewees decided clearly in favour of local anaesthetics, 59% supported the use of analgesics, 70% a possible antibiotic therapy and 33% a radiological examination during pregnancy. In addition, according to references in the specialist literature guidelines for the dental treatment, drug therapy and radiological diagnosis of pregnant women are presented. The local anaesthetics should have a high plasma protein bonding (articain, bupivacain, etidocain) and a minimum adrenaline concentration. Paracetamol is the analgesic of choice. If an antibiotic treatment is required, penicillin, cephalosporin and erythromycin are recommended. In particular during the first three-month period, radiological examinations should be restricted to the absolute minimum and performed only if no reasonable alternative is available, even though the radiological burden on the foetus falls 500,000 times short of the limit value of 50 mgray (5 rad) in the case of a microradiogram, and 50,000 times short of the limit value in the case of an orthopantomogram.