The Use of Different Local Anesthetics in Pregnant Women in Dentistry: A Systematic Review.

Background: Despite the potential side effects of local anesthetics, they are indispensable for relieving pain and, consequently, reducing the patient's stress.

Objective: The objective of the present research was to evaluate, through a systematic review, the different types of local anesthetics available for use in dental procedures in pregnant patients.

Methods: Electronic bibliographic searches were conducted to retrieve studies published from 2000 to 2024 concerning the use of local anesthetics in pregnant women in dentistry. Five studies were included in this review (2 case series, 2 cohort studies, and 1 randomized clinical trial).

Results: The studies involved a total of 1,954 patients. The primary local anesthetic used was lidocaine with epinephrine/adrenaline. There were no significant differences in pregnant women who received local anesthesia regarding gestational age at delivery, birth weight of the baby, induction of labor pain, preterm birth delivery, spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, fetal anomalies, risk of experiencing serious medical adverse events or adverse pregnancy outcomes. A limited number of studies were identified, and the information was restricted.

Conclusion: Both the present review and previous studies support the lack of grounds to avoid providing dental care and using local anesthetics during pregnancy.