Pathology · single question
A 16-week pregnant patient who uses methamphetamine is asymptomatic and presents for a routine check-up. When is the BEST time to perform dental treatment?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Plan multiple appointments within the next 2 months (2nd trimester)
The second trimester (weeks 14–28) is the safest period for elective dental treatment in pregnancy. At 16 weeks, the patient is in early 2nd trimester. Planning multiple appointments within the next 2 months (i.e., during the 2nd trimester) is optimal. The 1st trimester risks teratogenicity and spontaneous abortion; the 3rd trimester causes discomfort (supine hypotension), difficulty lying in the chair, and risk of preterm labor. Emergency care is appropriate at any trimester.
- A. Incorrect. Waiting until delivery is not appropriate — untreated dental infections can harm the fetus and increase risk of preterm birth.
- B. CORRECT. At 16 weeks (early 2nd trimester), planning elective dental care within the next 2 months (within the 2nd trimester window) is the safest and most appropriate plan.
- C. Incorrect. The 3rd trimester is the least comfortable time for extended dental procedures and carries risk of supine hypotension and preterm labor.
- D. Incorrect. While urgencies are treated immediately in any trimester, 'regardless of trimester' as a blanket policy is incorrect — trimester matters for elective care.