On this page
You have found a gap for a dental visit, but now you are wondering about the injection, feeding afterwards and any medicines you might need. It is a lot to organise when someone else already depends on you.
The short answer: breastfeeding is not, by itself, a reason to put dental appointments on hold. NSW Health’s MotherSafe guidance includes check-ups, dental X-rays and procedures using local anaesthetic. At Sienna Smiles in Hilbert, your medical history and concerns come before assessment. Ask separately about sedation and take-home medicines.
Which parts of the appointment need separate questions?
The examination, a numbing injection, sedation and medicine afterwards are different decisions. A reassuring answer about one does not settle all the others. The Australian Dental Association’s pregnancy page specifically includes breastfeeding in its local-anaesthetic advice; the WA Women and Newborn Health Service leaflet explains sedation and general anaesthesia separately.
Before you agree to a plan, ask the dentist to name what is proposed. You do not need to arrive knowing which drug or procedure you need. A useful starting point is: “Will this appointment just assess the problem, or might treatment happen too?” That leaves room to discuss the tooth and your feeding questions together.
A question guide for your appointment, not a medicine suitability chart
| Part of care | What to clarify with the treating clinician |
|---|---|
| Assessment and X-rays | What needs checking, whether imaging is needed for this problem, and what happens after the findings are explained. |
| Local anaesthetic | Whether a numbing injection is planned and whether any other medicine will be used with it. |
| Sedation or general anaesthesia | Who will give your instructions, when to eat and drink, when you can feed again, and who can help with your baby during recovery. |
| Medicine at home | The exact product and directions, how long it is needed, and which changes in you or your baby should prompt advice. |
The distinctions above draw on MotherSafe’s November 2020 dental leaflet and the WA anaesthesia leaflet dated 2023, both checked on 3 November 2026. The table is our appointment question guide, rather than a reproduction of either resource’s checklist.
Can I have the numbing injection while breastfeeding?
Yes. The ADA’s local-anaesthetic section says these injections can be used during breastfeeding and that dental treatment should not be avoided for this reason. They numb the area being treated; this is not the same as being put to sleep.
The WA leaflet gives a dental example involving an extraction under local anaesthetic and a parent feeding a six-month-old. Its answer allows usual feeding at the end of that procedure. That is helpful context, but it is not a personalised plan for every baby, every medicine combination or a visit involving sedation. Tell your dentist about your own circumstances before treatment.
Ask the clinician to explain the intended treatment, its risks and alternatives, and what to expect afterwards. You can ask for that explanation even if your main worry is breastfeeding. Agreeing that a local injection is compatible with feeding does not mean you have agreed to every proposed dental procedure.
What if the dentist recommends an X-ray?
MotherSafe includes dental X-rays among the care that can be provided while breastfeeding. The relevant advice is in its “Breastfeeding” section, not just the pregnancy section on the first page.
The useful appointment question is why that image is needed for your tooth or gums. Sienna’s check-up and clean information describes X-rays and an intraoral camera as parts of its assessment pathway. Tell the dentist if you have recent dental images elsewhere and ask whether those records would be useful. Do not assume that every visit needs the same imaging simply because it appears on a general service page.
Which medicine questions should I take with me?
Take questions about the exact medicine, rather than asking whether all pain relief or all antibiotics are suitable. HealthyWA’s medicines guidance explains that assessing treatment involves weighing the benefit to you, possible effects on your baby and the benefits of breastfeeding. A general list cannot do that assessment for you.
- What is this medicine called, including its active ingredient, and why do I need it?
- Have you checked it with my current medicines, allergies and breastfeeding circumstances?
- What amount, timing and duration should I follow, and do I need any feeding instructions specific to it?
- What should I do if it does not control the problem, I miss a dose or I think either of us has a side effect?
- If the advice is unclear, who should I call before I start or change it?
These are prompts for your dentist or pharmacist, not instructions to adjust treatment yourself. Bring the packet or a clear record of the ingredients for anything you already take, including products bought without a prescription. The ADA’s medical-history guidance also includes supplements and medicines used as inhalers, injections, creams or lozenges. A list limited to prescription tablets can miss something relevant.
HealthyWA advises parents taking medicines to watch for changes such as unusual sleepiness, poor feeding, a rash or severe diarrhoea, and to contact their doctor if these are troublesome and continue. Ask which warning signs and action apply to the medicine you are actually given. If your baby has difficulty breathing, the WA anaesthesia leaflet says to obtain medical attention straight away.
Does sedation change the plan?
It needs its own discussion, even when local anaesthetic is also used. The WA leaflet describes sedation as medicine used to relax you, with effects ranging from light relaxation to being very sleepy. It describes general anaesthesia as being unconscious for the procedure.
For sedation and general anaesthesia, the Women and Newborn Health Service guidance connects returning to feeding with being awake and well enough to hold your infant. It also recommends arranging someone to care for your baby during the procedure and help afterwards. Ask your treating team for instructions that cover your procedure, medicines and recovery, rather than relying on a fixed waiting period found online.
Tell the team if your baby was premature or has significant health issues. The leaflet’s premature-baby example directs the parent to the doctors caring for the baby. This is a reason for an individual conversation, not a reason to decide that you must stop feeding.
For a visit involving sedation, ask about fasting, transport home and support with feeding or expressing. Follow the treating team’s instructions about food and drink. Sienna has a sedation dentistry information page; an enquiry about it is not confirmation that a particular option is suitable or arranged for your appointment.
Do I need to express milk and throw it away?
Do not assume you need to discard milk simply because you have a dental appointment. The WA leaflet says this is rarely required after anaesthesia, while keeping the need for individual advice. Ask about the complete plan, including medicine afterwards, before deciding what to do.
Expressing milk for a feed while you are away is a different question from throwing milk away because of a medicine. If a longer appointment or recovery could separate you from your baby, ask how to plan for that time. The WA leaflet includes having stored milk available and arranging help as preparation for a procedure. That does not mean every routine check-up requires a stored supply or a change to feeding.
What should I tell Sienna before the visit?
Tell us that you are breastfeeding when you arrange the appointment, and include it in your updated history. You can use this checklist to organise the conversation:
- The dental problem, when it started and whether there is pain or swelling.
- Your current medicines and supplements, allergies and any recent changes.
- Your baby’s age and anything the treating team should know about prematurity or health needs.
- Whether you are asking for a check-up, assessment of a sore tooth or advice about already recommended treatment.
- Your questions about local anaesthetic, sedation and medicine afterwards, kept as separate questions.
- Any practical arrangements you need to ask about, including appointment length, feeding breaks or bringing a support person.
The last point is something to ask reception, not an assurance about baby attendance, childcare or feeding facilities. Sienna’s website does not establish those arrangements. Asking first means you can organise the visit around the answer rather than arrive relying on a service that has not been confirmed.
If your medicine history is complicated, the ADA suggests bringing a record from your doctor. If a medicine has also left your mouth feeling dry, our published guide to dry mouth at night explains what symptoms to note. It is related reading, not a recommendation to change a medicine.
How does Sienna’s first visit fit this planning?
Our published first-visit pathway starts with your history and questions, then assessment. The new patients page and check-up page describe the following sequence:
- You complete medical history and registration details, digitally on a tablet or using forms completed beforehand.
- Your clinician reviews your medical and dental history with you and hears your concerns before assessment. Bring up feeding and medicine questions here.
- The dentist assesses your mouth and explains findings using the clinic’s assessment tools, including an intraoral camera. Discuss what is needed for your particular problem.
- You receive a written summary and home-care plan. If treatment is recommended, the clinic describes a written plan with itemised costs for you to consider.
Sienna allocates 45–60 minutes for a first appointment. Check the booking length for your situation, especially if you are calling about pain rather than a routine visit. Ask what the assessment will cost and what any proposed next appointment involves; this article does not quote a treatment price or predict your health-fund rebate.
Should I wait until I finish breastfeeding?
Ask about the dental problem now rather than making the end of breastfeeding your default booking date. MotherSafe’s breastfeeding advice and the ADA’s local-anaesthetic guidance support seeking dental care during this time. Neither means every treatment is needed, or that the same treatment plan suits everyone.
Tell reception about pain, swelling or fever when you call. Sienna’s emergency dentist information identifies dental pain and swelling as reasons to seek assessment. Ask for advice on how promptly you need care; do not treat a routine booking made weeks ahead as advice that waiting is appropriate.
An elective appearance change is a different decision from assessing a sore tooth. The ADA does not recommend teeth whitening during breastfeeding because evidence about its safety is lacking. If that is what you had planned, raise it with your dentist separately. It is not a reason to postpone assessment of another dental concern.
How can I arrange a visit in Hilbert?
Sienna Smiles is at Shop 7, 10 Daintree Street, Hilbert WA 6112. Published hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm. See our contact page for directions, book an appointment or call (08) 6276 8338.
You could say: “I am breastfeeding and would like a dental appointment for this problem. I need to ask about any injection or medicine, and how long to allow. Can you help me choose the right appointment?” Bring your medicine list, questions and any useful dental records. Your first conversation can be about what you need to know before agreeing to treatment.
For an unresolved medicine question, the WA leaflet also lists the King Edward Memorial Hospital Obstetric Medicines Information Service on (08) 6458 2723. This is a separate WA Health information service, not a Sienna booking number or an emergency service.
Sources and scope
- Dental Treatment in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding, MotherSafe, Royal Hospital for Women, NSW Health. Updated November 2020; breastfeeding section.
- Anaesthesia and breastfeeding, Women and Newborn Health Service, North Metropolitan Health Service, WA. 2023 leaflet, WNHS 4427 0323.
- Medications and breastfeeding, HealthyWA, WA Department of Health. Reviewed 18 March 2021; general planning and monitoring guidance, not a reproduced medicine list.
- Australian Dental Association: Oral health and pregnancy and Medical history. No review date displayed on the pages checked.
- Sienna Smiles: New patients, Check-up and clean, Contact and Our team.
Sources checked 3 November 2026. This article gives general information from published Australian guidance, not personal clinical or medicine advice. Your treating dentist, doctor or pharmacist can advise on your situation. Photos in this article are AI-generated illustrations, not photos of Sienna Smiles, its staff or patients.