Cavity Issue

True, while pregnant and while breastfeeding you're more likely to get gingivitis and cavities. It's the hormones.

I don't understand about x-rays being required before filling a cavity. Maybe you can shop around for a dentist who would be more accommodating. Are you in a lot of pain? Perhaps ask for something temporary, something to get you through the next few weeks. I hope you get through this okay!

BTW, congrats on the "new bundle"!

Your dentist books appointments - just like the hygienist. If he doesn't know you have a cavity he may not have an opening - he will be spending his time seeing other patients. He does way more than just the last 5 minutes of your cleaning appointment. Where would he "find" 30 minutes to do your appointment if he's with other patients during that time?

You could ask the office manager if you book far enough out if there are any days that he has an appointment open right after your cleaning appointment. They will sometimes do that.

If it is a smaller office, or a slower office - then the dentist will have time to fill the same day.

He wants xrays to make sure of the depth of the decay. If he starts a filling and the cavity extends down into the root and it's too big to fill, then you have to have an impromptu root canal. With xrays he will be able to tell EXACTLY how big, what the best course of treatment is and how much time he will need for the appointment.

Cavities actually have NOTHING to do with oral hygiene. It has to do with the acidic level of your saliva.

While you are pregnant end each meal with string cheese (lowers the ph of your saliva). Also - chew gum with xylitol (like Trident). There's a reason 4 of 5 dentists recommend it.... the xylitol also lowers the ph. But it has to be sugar free gum with xylitol as the first or second ingredient.

Sometimes a cavity will hurt if you have a bit of food down in it, so you could try brushing really hard and thoroughly in that area and mouthwash etc.
My dentist will treat you the same day if something is giving you pain. But my dentist is a God. He is really.

I think tomorrow morning you need to get on the phone with your new dentist and explain, I have TMJ, I'm pregnant, I have major pain in a tooth, and I would like to make an appointment. They will take it from there and give you far better answers than we can.

When you book the appointment let them know that you have a cavity and it needs to get done that day. (Or tell them it is causing pain). If it is a small cavity they will usually take care of it then, at least mine does. I don’t think they should be doing x-rays if you are pregnant, but I don’t know for sure.

PREGNANCY! seriously its proven pregnancy ruins teeth because baby is taking everything.. but whenver i have had to have a cavity filled its always been a later appointment ive had to do the cleaning and xrays and such and then go back a week or two later and do the filling

OH! to add they probably wont do xrays because you are pregnant, so you probably will have to wait till post baby to have anything like that done

Pregnancy is very hard on your teeth. Make sure you are taking the proper big vitamins. Why years ago women would end up toothless.
Tell the dentist the situation and that you need to be double scheduled and have it all done at one time because of all the reasons you mentioned and the Pain! They should not drag it out if you are in pain. But you probably needed to take care of it sooner since it is a long process. If they can not agree to that , then find someone who will.

I can see how a dentist might do things that way, not prepared for longer procedures with a full day of clients. However, I have been going to an old school dentist for 15 yrs. His office isn't fancy at all. They are very conservative and don't try to make a bunch of money off of me. In fact, I was telling my dentist how my husband and my sister's dentist find something "wrong" with their teeth every time they go in and I seem to never have an issue. He told me that running a dentist's office is still a business and those with the fancy offices have to make the money to pay for all of that "fanciness!" My sister and husband now go to my dentist and those cavities their old dentists claimed they needed filled were not even cavities. It was hog-wash. So, my point....are you certain you have a cavity (i.e. pain) or is there a possibility this dentist is trying to make a little money? Another point, I have had a sticky spot in one of my molars for a year and a half now. Every six months my dentist comments on it but says, let's just wait, this isn't bad and it may never need to be filled. I have no pain or anything.