1. The following anesthetics are safe for use in pregnant women at standard dental doses. Be aware that sedatives such as benzodiazepines should be avoided.
Lidocaine: Category B
Procaine: Category C
Epinephrine: Category C
Often mixed with local anesthetics and is safe in pregnancy at dental doses
Nitrous Oxide: No rating
Controversy based on studies of chronic exposure in operating room nurses leading to B12 deficiency before the advent of scavenger systems.
Dental use of nitrous oxide delivers uses smaller, shorter exposures which have not been associated with the problems found in chronic exposure studies.
Hospitals do safely use Nitrous Oxide for pain control in labor.
California and New York guidelines indicate that nitrous oxide can be used in pregnancy with appropriate care and it is the sedation agent of choice for pregnant patients with fear and anxiety
References Oral Health During Pregnancy and Early Childhood: Evidence Guidelines for Health Professionals. California Dental Association Foundation
Motherisk. Toronto, Ontario, Canada at (which included referencing National Collaborative Perinatal Project, , Record Group 443, National Institutes of Health.)
Hilgers KK, Douglass JM, Mathieu GP. Adolescent Pregnancy: A Review of Dental Treatment Guidelines. Pediatr Dent 2003;25:
Care During Pregnancy and Early Childhood Practice Guidelines. New York Public Health Department
Oral Health During Pregnancy and Early Childhood: Evidence Guidelines for Health Professionals. California Dental Association Foundation. February 2010.
US Food and Drug Administration Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling: Accessed 3/31/14.
Oral Health Care During Pregnancy Expert Workgroup Oral Health Care During Pregnancy: A National Consensus Statement—Summary of an Expert Workgroup Meeting. Washington, DC: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center.
Briggs GC, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation, Ninth Edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA 2011.